Staff photo by Fritz Busch Trinity Lutheran Church Pastor David Nissen of Sleepy Eye says he’s heard from people concerned about immigration enforcement at churches. He said it’s important to be understanding and compassionate.

Since dozens of religious groups filed a federal lawsuit against President Trump’s administration policy expanding immigration enforcement in churches this week, several area pastors said they see both sides of the issue.

Lawsuits began last month after Trump rolled back long-standing policies restricting immigration enforcement including arrests at schools, churches and hospitals.

Last Friday, Minnesota Bishops including Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Diocese of New Ulm Bishop Chad W. Zielinski issued an immigration statement.The statement was published in its entirety on the Journal’s Tuesday editorial page.

“We encourage the Administration to conduct immigration enforcement prudently, cautiously, and always with human dignity in mind,” the statment said. “Central to protecting human dignity is respecting the security and integrity of the family. And families–especially those with minor children and those whose children or siblings are citizens–should not be separated and deported.”

The Journal reached out to other pastors in the region. Trinity (ELCA) Lutheran Church Pastor Dave Nissen in Sleepy Eye talked about the value of being understanding.

“It’s a pretty important issue in our country. I’ve heard that people are worried on both sides of the issue. Part of being a pastor is talking to people in a compassionate, understanding way. We are taught in scripture to love everyone who comes through our doors as we do ourselves,” he said. “I think it’s important that we understand each other at these times. Often, people talk past one another and don’t listen to their morals or faith. We all need to consider those things.”

He said If immigration officers come to his church, he’d discuss the legality of coming to a place of worship with them.

“I’d talk to immigration agents respectfully. So far, I’ve had no contact with any immigration agents. If I do, I’ll deal with it on a case by case basis,” said Nissen.

Pastor Kent Krumweide said he’s with the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) and serves Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Central Lutheran Church, rural Franklin, and First United Methodist Church in Fairfax.

“Our presiding (ELCA) bishop, (the Rev. Elizabeth A Eaton of Chicago) supports the view that nations have a responsibility to protect their borders and safeguard communities, but policies must not cause undue repercussions in immigrant communities or be a bias against them. Just policies include recognition of the humanity of immigrants without status, respect for those at the border and refuge for displaced people. We are called to see anew in the image of God in our immigrant neighbors,” said Krumweide.

He said he hasn’t encountered any immigration agents so far.

“I think people are on the fence. Protecting the border is important, but we need to recognize people’s humanity and support them in any way we can,” said Krumweide.

A Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) Pastor Tim Berg at St. John’s in Sleepy Eye commented briefly.

“My primary responsibility here is to share Christ and God’s word with people no matter what their skin color is. I haven’t heard or seen anything about immigration agents yet,” he said.

The statement from the bishops also stressed compassion.

As church leaders ministering to many of the immigrant families in Minnesota, we see the wisdom in compassionate ‘families first’ policies, such as the ‘deferred actions’ for childhood arrivals (DACA) and for parents of Americans (DAPA) that have been suggested in the past,” it said. “We are a nation of laws that must be respected, but taking immigration enforcement actions using a simplistic calculus based on an individual’s legal status is unjust. justice is about establishing right relationships with one another and giving the other their due. The fact that we advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and the just enforcement of laws against those already residing here is not simple-minded advocacy for ‘open borders.'”