Immigrant receives church sanctuary to avoid deportation
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A native of Ecuador living in Connecticut has become the second person this summer to take sanctuary inside a New Haven church to avoid deportation.
Marco Reyes Alverez entered the U.S. illegally in 1997 and has been living in Meriden. The father of three was supposed to board a plane to Ecuador on Tuesday but instead took refuge inside the First and Summerfield United Methodist Church.
“The decision of not travelling was for security,” Reyes said through a translator during a news conference at the church Tuesday evening.
His supporters say a family member was recently murdered in Ecuador and Reyes fears for his life if he returns.