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Members of United Church of Christ (UCC) congregations in the Washington, D.C. area joined other faith communities in a prayer vigil near the White House on April 14. The gathering supported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant and Maryland resident, who was arrested and imprisoned at CECOT, El Salvador's maximum-security prison due to an acknowledged "administrative error" by the Trump administration.
The event was organized by Rev. Michael Vanacore, pastor of Pilgrim UCC in Wheaton, Maryland, alongside Rev. Laura Martin, associate pastor of Rock Spring UCC. It coincided with a meeting between President Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele at the White House. After the vigil concluded, Bukele announced his decision not to return Abrego Garcia to the United States, despite a directive from the U.S. Supreme Court instructing the Trump administration to work on Abrego Garcia’s release. Legal efforts continue on behalf of Abrego Garcia in federal courts.
Rev. Vanacore reflected on the timing of the vigil, drawing comparisons between Abrego Garcia’s circumstances and the biblical events of Holy Week, stating, “Jesus was also an innocent man, who was tried and punished unjustly.” Vanacore mentioned his personal connections to immigration through his family, saying, “It could have been me.”
Joelle Novey highlighted the parallels to the Exodus story during the vigil, noting the biblical consequences for societies that tolerate tyranny. Novey, who is associated with several Jewish congregations in Washington, remarked, “The plagues will come for all of us too, every one, who stands back and stays quiet.”
In addition to Vanacore and Novey’s speeches, participants read Psalm 91 in both English and Spanish. Rev. Laura Martin, Rev. Ellen Jennings of Cleveland Park UCC in Washington, D.C., and other faith leaders led prayers and songs. The vigil was co-sponsored by the Congregation Action Network and CASA, both local immigration advocacy organizations.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case has renewed attention as he remains imprisoned despite being married to an American citizen and never having been charged with a crime. His wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, expressed gratitude and hope after the vigil: “Today I felt the overwhelming love, embrace, and support from my community... my heart aches for my husband.”
Sara Fitzgerald, a member of Rock Spring UCC in Arlington, Virginia, is also a board member of the UCC Media Justice Ministry.
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