Statement regarding the killings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero

“Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place.” (Jeremiah 22:1-3, NRSVue)

“…do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.” (Zechariah 7:10, NRSVue)

“We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” (1 John 4:20-21, NRSVue)

In the space of less than one-week, human life has once again been lost because of ICE activity in our communities.  Once again, we are left with families mourning the loss of loved ones, and we are left with the knowledge that it simply did not have to happen.  Loss of life at the hands of anyone is devastating, but we continue to see the actions and modi operandi of ICE failing to honor appropriate and legal due process for these persons.  We have yet no indication that anyone involved will be held accountable for such abject failure of process and disregard for human life.  As followers of Jesus, we must speak and let the world know that we cannot condone these irresponsible and deadly approaches to what is being called “immigration enforcement.”  Scripture reminds us that we are to love, to love our neighbor because God is love.  No one is excluded from the limitless expanse and inclusion of God’s love.  The prophet Jeremiah is specific in his forbidding of violence against the alien, the orphan, the widow.  The bottom line of Jesus’ teaching is to love God and love our neighbor for if we do not know love, we do not know God, for God is love.

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo had been a resident of Houston, TX for over 35 years and owned his own construction company.  He had built his family home, and was a beloved husband, father and valued community member.  Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero was a young father who simply wanted to give his daughter “the American dream.”  Neither of these men were the actual targets of the investigative or detention activity that ICE said it was there to do.  Neither of these men had criminal records.  Given the testimonies of their communities and the lack of credibility that ICE currently has in these matters, it is beyond comprehension to believe that either man represented a life-threatening presence to ICE agents. There is no reasoning that can justify the loss of an innocent life.  We can never stand as judge, jury and executioner with such careless regard for the life of another.

In early February 2026, I visited the communities in Minneapolis where both Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, both American citizens and neither of whom were the intended targets of investigative or enforcement activity.  People of many faith traditions participated in religious ceremonies led by local indigenous leaders and attended by a wide diversity of people from the local community and across the nation.  We had hoped that the response in Minneapolis had resulted in reforming the actions of ICE agents, that somehow the needless loss of life had raised awareness and that ICE officials wanted to avoid these mistakes going forward.  But last week has shown us that current ICE practices continue to devalue human life These practices must stop. As people of faith, we cannot be silent when the injustices continue to result in needless death. Accountability must prevail, policies must change, and this unspeakable evil against humanity must end.  I pray that we may continue to walk in the strength that gives voice to those who cannot speak, those who now live in fear.  May our bold advocacy let the nations know that we will continue to speak, to advocate, to work to change policies that provide greater compassion for all humanity.  How long must we do this?  “Until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:24, NRSVue)

Moving towards wholeness together,
Rev. Terri Hord Owens
General Minister and President