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Albuquerque Quaker church gives sanctuary to immigrant woman

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Quaker church in Albuquerque will join churches across the country giving sanctuary shelter to immigrants facing possible deportation, members announced Tuesday.

Speaking with a coalition of faith leaders, the Friends Meeting House said volunteers will help give Emma Membreno Sorto, a Honduran immigrant, around-the-clock protection from federal immigration authorities while she lives in the church's facilities.

"While we have a duty to follow just laws, we have a moral obligation to oppose unjust laws and policies" said Quaker member Rachel Brackbill.

Her attorney Roderick DeAguero said Membreno Sorto has lived in the U.S. for 25 years and previously sought political asylum. He said immigration authorities contacted Membreno Sorto while she was going through cancer treatment.

Membreno Sorto told reporters she is no longer going to any federal immigration appointments for fear of being deported.

"It was not an option going to my appointment, being detained and being far away from my lawyer, my husband, and my community," Membreno Sorto said in Spanish.

Members of the Friends Meeting House will train volunteers on how to respond if immigration authorities try to detain Membreno Sorto while she is staying at the church.

Robert Morales, her husband and a U.S. citizen, thanked the Quaker and urged activists to work for immigration reform.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa declined immediate comment but said she was checking Membreno Sorto's case.

Advocates said other Albuquerque churches are considering offering shelter to immigrants facing deportation.

The move comes as more than a dozen of places of worship across the U.S. have announced they would give shelter to immigrants fighting deportations.

Last month, for example, a Mexican immigrant woman took refuge in a Denver church after U.S. immigration authorities denied her request to remain in the country.

President Donald Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration a priority and his government has issued a request for bids from companies to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

He has threatened to cut funding to cities that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities.