Congresswoman Cori Bush Remains Committed to Permanently Reunifying Alex Garcia with his Family
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) released a statement after Alex Garcia, a husband and father of five who has been living in sanctuary at a St. Louis church for more than three years, was allowed to return home to his family in Missouri. On Monday, Congresswoman Cori Bush pressured Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stay Mr. Garcia’s deportation and introduced a private bill that would grant permanent residency to Alex Garcia. The agency has now confirmed that no federal resources will be used for his detention or removal.
“St. Louis and I are so grateful and relieved that Alex has been reunited with his family at home. This is the power of organizing. Alex was able to go home today because of the tireless work of his family, organizers, faith leaders, lawyers, Christ Church UCC in Maplewood, and community members who fought tooth and nail for years to make this day a reality. The pain Alex and his family have endured is unimaginable, unjust, and unacceptable. ICE has promised not to deport Alex, and we will stop at nothing to ensure that they keep their promise.
“While this order brings long-awaited relief, it is only a partial solution. Alex deserves to lead a safe and secure life, right here with his family, and with us, his community. That means not only being able to leave the Church but also having the freedom to provide for his family and live in the United States permanently. In Congress, I will continue championing the private bill to grant Alex permanent residency, which is the surest way to guarantee permanent unity for his family.
“This will not be an easy fight, but that’s never stopped us before, and it won’t stop us now. We must build a new immigration system that ensures every person who seeks home in this country is safe, protected, and welcomed with open arms. We reiterate loudly and clearly: Alex belongs here.”
Text of the bill can be viewed here. Photos of the Congresswoman and Alex Garcia from their meeting at the Church in St. Louis last week can be found here.
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Alex Garcia took refuge in Christ Church UCC Maplewood in 2017 after the Trump administration denied his petition for a stay of removal. A construction worker from Honduras, he has called Poplar Bluff, Missouri home since 2004. He married Carly, a U.S. citizen, in 2010. He has five children, all born in the U.S. Garcia is one of about 50 undocumented immigrants living in sanctuary in churches across the United States.
Congresswoman Cori Bush represents Missouri’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. She is also a Deputy Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a proud member of the Congressional Black Caucus. She is a registered nurse, single mother, and an ordained pastor. Following the murder of Michael Brown Jr. by a now-terminated Ferguson police officer, she became a civil rights activist and community organizer fighting for justice for Black lives on the streets of Missouri and across the country.