Rev. George Mason, standing before a group of interfaith leaders in Dallas, called on federal officials to heed the ‘deep moral concern’ resonating within immigrant communities across the nation, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Mason’s plea, which echoed the sentiments of the late Pope Francis, emphasized that migrants and refugees deserve recognition as individuals with distinct names, faces, and stories, rather than being viewed as mere ‘pawns on the chessboard of humanity.’
The news conference took place outside Kessler Park United Methodist Church and was organized by Faith Commons, an interfaith group founded by Mason.
This event occurred against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny of the immigration policies instituted during the Trump administration, which saw increased deportations and stricter asylum requirements.
The gathering was particularly timely, as it followed recent enforcement actions against immigrants in North Texas, including the high-profile deportation of Neri Jose Alvarado Borges, a 25-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker.
Mason’s remarks were strongly tied to cases like Alvarado Borges, who sought asylum after fleeing Venezuela, where he feared for his life due to his political activism against President Nicolás Maduro.
At the time of his arrest, Alvarado Borges was employed at bakeries in Lewisville and Dallas, where he had built a life beyond the turmoil of his homeland.
In late February, Homeland Security Investigations officers arrested him, leading to a swift immigration court process that resulted in his deportation to El Salvador on March 15.
According to an ICE spokesperson, the agency noted that Alvarado Borges had entered the United States illegally near El Paso in April of the previous year, which initiated removal proceedings against him.
However, questions regarding his asylum claim and any past criminal history remain unanswered, as the ICE statement did not elaborate on these facets of his case.
A legal complaint by a Border Patrol agent pointed out that there was no prior criminal or immigration history listed for Alvarado Borges, indicating the complaint’s primary focus was to establish probable cause.
Adding to the urgency of their concerns, Rabbi Nancy Kasten, Chief Relationship Officer at Faith Commons, articulated the deep distress felt by faith leaders.
‘As faith leaders, we cannot keep silent while innocent neighbors are illegally abducted, detained, and disappeared,’ Kasten stated in a press release.
The Rev. Eric Folkerth, pastor of Kessler Park United Methodist Church, echoed these sentiments, stressing the local impact of harmful policies on immigrant communities in D-FW.
He called for government accountability regarding due process for all individuals, regardless of their immigration status.
Folkerth reminded the audience of biblical teachings that advocate for the compassionate treatment and welcoming of immigrants, asserting, ‘The Bible says we should treat and welcome the immigrant, not harm them.’
He further reinforced the idea that immigrants should be entitled to the same legal protections as citizens, a truth he acknowledged some may be reluctant to accept.
In response to the growing apprehension surrounding enforcement actions, the interfaith group announced plans to hold regular vigils outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Dallas.
This office recorded the highest number of immigration arrests in the nation last fiscal year, highlighting a critical focus for advocacy efforts among the faith community in the region.
image source from：https://www.dallasnews.com/news/immigration/2025/04/28/dallas-faith-leaders-denounce-heightened-immigration-enforcement-in-d-fw/
