Another Rochester church votes to become a sanctuary congregation

ROCHESTER — People of Hope Lutheran Church voted last week to become a sanctuary congregation for undocumented migrants, becoming the latest Christian congregation in Rochester to offer protection to individuals facing the threat of detention and deportation.

“As people of faith, we are called by God to love our neighbors,” the church said in a statement. “The divine calling compels us to stand with those who are oppressed or marginalized.”

Dan Doering, pastor of the church located in southwest Rochester, said the 560-member church voted in favor of becoming a sanctuary church on Sunday, April 6, 2025, after spending several months researching “what this would mean for us as a congregation.” The resolution passed by an overwhelming majority, he said.

Doering, who also serves on the Rochester City Council, said there are no immediate plans for the church to take in anyone fearful of deportation. He said the decision to become a sanctuary congregation was consistent with the church’s stance to stand with those who are marginalized.

“We are a very active congregation in the wider community and definitely have heard from folks who are fearful of deportation in the wider Rochester community,” Doering said in an interview.

People of Hope joins First Unitarian Universalist Church and Peace United Church of Christ as congregations that have passed resolutions offering sanctuary to undocumented people and families.

Both First Unitarian Universalist Church and Peace United Church of Christ became sanctuary congregations in fall 2017, which was the first year of President Donald Trump's first administration.

Since taking office again, Trump has launched an immigration crackdown, promised mass deportations and vowed to reduce the undocumented population in the U.S.

The Trump administration said that it had deported more than 100,000 illegal immigrants from the U.S. since Trump became president, according to an April 1 Newsweek article. Some have viewed that number skeptically.

Since Trump’s inauguration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been active in the Rochester area. Agents apprehended seven people earlier this year, according to documents obtained by the Post Bulletin. Five of those detained by immigration officials were released on bond after hearings in Fort Snelling Immigration Court.

Though Rochester churches have been offering sanctuary to the undocumented for nearly eight years, there hasn’t yet been an instance in which a migrant has taken refuge in an area church, said Phil Wheeler, a First Unitarian Universalist member and one of the founders of the Southern Minnesota Interfaith Immigrant Legal Defense, a nonprofit organization.

Wheeler said that soon after becoming a sanctuary church, First Unitarian Universalist members stocked two rooms with supplies with the help of a network of faith communities and collected funds for food and transportation.

But Rochester churches have discovered that the commitment runs both ways, and sanctuary can be akin to house detention for migrants who seek church protection.

Wheeler said one undocumented woman who considered seeking sanctuary at First Unitarian Universalist Church after a friend of hers was deported decided against it.

“She was worried about detention. She decided she would rather have the risks than being totally dependent on the church,” Wheeler said.

In time, First Unitarian Universalist Church shifted its focus and resources from offering sanctuary to assisting migrants with legal support and rental assistance. The church is currently supporting three asylum-seeking families in that capacity, he said.

Doering said church members have spent the last months studying the ramifications of becoming a sanctuary church.

“It’s not as simple as people think it would be just to open up a building and housing someone,” Doerring said. “You have to think of all the logistics that are involved in that, and we are doing our level best to try to figure that out.”

Last December, Trump promised during an interview to do away with the “sensitive locations” memo that restricts ICE from entering churches and schools.

A Pride flag flies outside People of Hope Church, signifying its solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Doering said that in the months ahead, the church will partner with other faith-based groups and community organizations to offer support to migrants, including providing educational sessions and legal aid.

“We’re not talking about people who are committing violent crimes or anything like that,” Doering said. “We’re talking about refugees who are falling through our immigration system. We’re going to figure out how to participate and advocate for those folks.”