Man Seeks Freedom After Living in Church for Three Years
2021-02-25
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1American lawmaker Cori Bush is seeking permanent residency for a Honduran immigrant who has lived for three years in a church, a Christian religious building.
2Bush is a new member of the United States House of Representatives.
3This week, she proposed a private bill that would permit Alex Garcia to safely leave the Christ Church United Church of Christ in Missouri.
4In 2017, the church gave Garcia refuge so the government could not enforce his expulsion for illegally entering the U.S.
5Garcia sneaked into the country in 2004 and has remained since then, finding work and building a family.
6He is hopeful that the bill will be a "pathway for freedom," he said.
7"I miss spending time with my family outside of the church walls," he said.
8"It has been hard for me watching my babies grow and learn without me."
9Garcia is among many immigrants in the United States who took refuge from expulsion during Donald Trump's term as president.
10Many have said they are hopeful they can gain citizenship under new President Joe Biden.
11In his first weeks in office, Biden signed several orders that undo some Trump administration policies on immigration.
12Several Republican Party lawmakers are seeking to block the new orders.
13Garcia fled extreme poverty and violence in Honduras, his supporters say.
14He and his wife Carly Garcia, a U.S. citizen, have lived in the small Missouri town of Poplar Bluff for more than 10 years.
15In 2015, immigration officials ordered Garcia's expulsion.
16He received two one-year suspensions of the order under former president Barack Obama.
17But after Trump took office in 2017, Garcia was again ordered to be expelled.
18He then found refuge at the church in Maplewood.
19Pastor Becky Turner said Garcia quickly became a valued part of the church membership.
20"I have watched as he set up beds for the unhoused on cold winter nights," Turner said.
21"I have watched as he would take care of our church members who needed something fixed or built or found. Alex the guest quickly became Alex the host."
22She added, "The country needs more people like Alex."
23A private bill is one that targets a single individual.
24These bills are rare and usually sought as a last effort.
25Immigration is a common issue of private bills.
26Cori Bush said only four private bills have been signed into law since 2007.
27"This will not be an easy fight, but that's never stopped us before and it won't stop us today," Bush said.
28"We stand with Alex and we will not rest until he is free and protected from the most inhumane element of our country's immigration system."
29The lawmaker that Bush replaced in January also sought passage of a private bill for Garcia.
30But that bill failed to pass.
31I'm Jonathan Evans.
1American lawmaker Cori Bush is seeking permanent residency for a Honduran immigrant who has lived for three years in a church, a Christian religious building. 2Bush is a new member of the United States House of Representatives. This week, she proposed a private bill that would permit Alex Garcia to safely leave the Christ Church United Church of Christ in Missouri. In 2017, the church gave Garcia refuge so the government could not enforce his expulsion for illegally entering the U.S. 3Garcia sneaked into the country in 2004 and has remained since then, finding work and building a family. He is hopeful that the bill will be a "pathway for freedom," he said. 4"I miss spending time with my family outside of the church walls," he said. "It has been hard for me watching my babies grow and learn without me." 5Garcia is among many immigrants in the United States who took refuge from expulsion during Donald Trump's term as president. Many have said they are hopeful they can gain citizenship under new President Joe Biden. 6In his first weeks in office, Biden signed several orders that undo some Trump administration policies on immigration. Several Republican Party lawmakers are seeking to block the new orders. 7Garcia fled extreme poverty and violence in Honduras, his supporters say. He and his wife Carly Garcia, a U.S. citizen, have lived in the small Missouri town of Poplar Bluff for more than 10 years. 8In 2015, immigration officials ordered Garcia's expulsion. He received two one-year suspensions of the order under former president Barack Obama. 9But after Trump took office in 2017, Garcia was again ordered to be expelled. He then found refuge at the church in Maplewood. 10Pastor Becky Turner said Garcia quickly became a valued part of the church membership. 11"I have watched as he set up beds for the unhoused on cold winter nights," Turner said. "I have watched as he would take care of our church members who needed something fixed or built or found. Alex the guest quickly became Alex the host." 12She added, "The country needs more people like Alex." 13A private bill is one that targets a single individual. These bills are rare and usually sought as a last effort. Immigration is a common issue of private bills. 14Cori Bush said only four private bills have been signed into law since 2007. 15"This will not be an easy fight, but that's never stopped us before and it won't stop us today," Bush said. "We stand with Alex and we will not rest until he is free and protected from the most inhumane element of our country's immigration system." 16The lawmaker that Bush replaced in January also sought passage of a private bill for Garcia. But that bill failed to pass. 17I'm Jonathan Evans. 18Jim Salter reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 19________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21host - n. a person who receives or entertains guests 22residency - n. legal permission to live in a place