"For worshippers like Mike, an Iranian asylum-seeker who attends a West Los Angeles church, the weeks leading up to Christmas feel less like a spiritual refuge and more like a time of apprehension. He asked that only the anglicized version of his Farsi name be used because he fears speaking publicly could affect his immigration case. He fled Iran after converting to Christianity."
"The Department of Homeland Security says enforcement actions at churches require secondary approval and are expected to be rare. Still, the concern is real inside Mike's congregation, where church leaders asked that the name of the church not be published. A significant number of Iranian parishioners worship there, and the pastor often invites them to pray in Farsi during services. Lately, fewer take her up on the offer."
Advent preparations in several Southern California congregations with large immigrant communities are overshadowed by fear of immigration enforcement. Iranian converts and asylum-seekers report apprehension about attending public worship, fearing arrests or immigration consequences. Recent enforcement actions, including arrests outside a church in June, have heightened anxiety among parishioners. The Department of Homeland Security says enforcement at churches requires secondary approval and should be rare, but congregations remain unsettled. Church leaders have requested anonymity for safety, and many Iranian worshippers have stopped praying aloud in Farsi. Pastors describe the situation as heartbreaking, especially during a season meant for thankful reflection.
Read at www.npr.org
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