By Rev Roberto Ochoa January 26, 2026
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
My dear friends of the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ and beyond:
Please know that as I typed these words, I am thinking and praying for all our churches, not only in Iowa Nebraska South Dakota…but the churches and people in Minneapolis/St Paul and surrounding communities in Minnesota.
As I mentioned last week, I decided to answer the call of Faith Leaders to witness the destructive presence of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Twin Cities these past several weeks. I left there Friday, outraged, inspired, and hopeful for our siblings to the North and East of our conferences. I witness everyday people, social workers, blue collar workers, professionals, first responders, retailers, teachers, religious leaders, civil authorities, people of all ages and walks of life, doing all they could to protect the immigrant and refugee populations that Minnesota is known for through the decades.
Minnesotans refuse to let ICE agents harass, intimidate, frighten and just terrorize their neighbors without cause.
Minnesotans are refusing to let ICE agents deny the basic constitutional rights of due process of all who reside in this country, as Americans…willing to put their bodies between ICE and the vulnerable, to monitor and report the unlawful acts being perpetuated in the guise of looking for the “worse of the worse”.
Let me be clear…ICE agents are approaching anyone looking like me (as a Latino) demanding proof of legal residency, people who are attempting to perform every day duties like pumping gas in their car, dropping off their children in schools, or going to work…anyone who looks a “certain” way. It is known as racial profiling.
Immigrant based churches, social services and even some schools rather close than put their communities at risk. People are afraid to go to work or school…and thousands of people are providing groceries, helping pay rents and utilities, escorting the vulnerable to medical appointments…risking their lives to help their neighbors.
ICE agents aren’t looking for the worse…they are looking for anybody who’s documentation may be in question…even using children as “bait”. For me, ICE agents have become a form of bounty hunters. Face covered, in unmark cars, in full riot gear patrolling neighborhoods…which were once safe…but no longer thanks to their presence. Hundreds of law-abiding American citizens being tear gassed, clubbed, shot at, and several even killed nationwide…like Renee Nicole Good (a mother of three and poet) and Alex Pretti (an ICU nurse to veterans) for exercising their first (and in Alex’s case – second amendment) rights. As I saw the recording of Alex’s execution…I could easily see myself in that situation, coming to the aid of a woman being pushed to the ground by an ICE agent. I could have been Alex last week for being willing to stand, witness and resist abusive tactics. I wept.
I witnessed communities “in siege” by our own national government without consent of state and local governments. Communities that didn’t ask the federal government for assistance to deal with their citizens, including the immigrant communities. A state that worked hard to bring communities together from the lessons learn from George Floyd’s death by a police officer in 2020 and the shooting at a Catholic school and church last August. I witnessed resilience and determination by Minnesotans turning out by the thousands in 10 below weather marching in downtown Minneapolis to demand ICE leave their communities and to leave them alone.
Please know that I don’t care if your politics are red, blue, purple, pink or whatever… what I do care about is that as followers of Christ we are called to “do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8) and feed the hungry, provide drink to do the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, take care of the sick, and visit the incarcerated (Matt 25) and to love our enemies (Matt 5).
Minneapolis is a lesson for all of us…for what is happening there can easily happen in Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Omaha, Lincoln and in any of our towns in Iowa Nebraska South Dakota and as people of faith we need to act.
So, to all our UCC churches in South Dakota Nebraska Iowa conferences I ask that you pray for Minnesota and our nation. This morning when I shared my Minneapolis experiences at Yankton SD UCC, several members with family ties in the Twin Cities approached me with their gratitude and concern for their safety. One embracing me with tears. We are much more connected than we think.
I encourage our church members to get to know their neighbors that may be vulnerable and prepare a plan of assistance as your conscience directs you, with your families, friends, and churches to offer safe spaces and refuge for often the American born offspring of immigrants and refugees.
Thirdly, I ask that you write or call your elected representatives in the Senate and House of Representatives to find a resolution to end this violence, asking for the very least a pause of ICE activities…a ceasefire if you will, and limit or end the funding, to allow for calm and peace to prevail for the good of all our citizens in our country.
And finally, if you are able to support our siblings of the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ emergency fund, please follow this link: https://www.uccmn.org/2026/01/21/donate-to-emergency-grants-fund-related-to-ice-surge/ or to find out more information go to the UCC Minnesota Conference website: https://www.uccmn.org/,
The time is critical and I urge all pastoral leaders to be a Prophetic Witness from the pulpit to their congregations. For when our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren look back at these times, how will you respond to them when they ask on which side of history were you on in this struggle to support our neighbors? WWJD? How can we find our way back to being in unity as Americans and as Christians?
Gracias/Thank you for standing up for Justice for All in the United Church of Christ. I welcome all feedback to my reflection this week and don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.
May God who created us, continue blessing you and loved ones through Jesus Christ who shows us the way to Divine Love, and the Holy Spirit which encourages and sustains us in courage. Amen.
Bendiciones/Blessings and Paz/Peace,
Rev Roberto