COLORADO SPRINGS — A local church is now providing sanctuary to a man who they say is facing deportation.
The All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church on Tejon St. announced today they are sheltering Miguel Ramirez Valiente who fled gang violence in El Salvador 14 years ago. Ramirez Valiente is married to a U.S. citizen and has 3 children.
The church says he has been working since 2011 to pursue legal citizenship, but was recently unable to submit paperwork to a federal court due to the government shutdown in order to stay a scheduled January deportation.
An attorney for Ramirez Valiente claims his due process is being violated and they hope his need to claim sanctuary in the church will be a short-term solution.
