Members of the New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigration Justice traveled Oct. 22 to Artesia to visit the family detention center where more than 500 women and children immigrants are being detained. Courtesy photo

SPIRITUALITY News:

More than 500 women and children are being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Artesia Family Residential Center in Artesia.

These immigrants are primarily from Central American countries including Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, having fled from violence in their countries and invariably endured many traumatic experiences before reaching the U.S. border.

Justin Remer-Thamert, director of the New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigration Justice (NMFCIJ), will present a talk at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6  called “Spotlight on Artesia: How We Respond to Asylum Seekers” about the conditions in Central America that are driving unprecedented numbers of immigrant refugees to the U.S. border, and the faith-based response to people seeking asylum in the U.S.

The talk is at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Parish Hall, 3600 Canyon Road in Los Alamos. People of all faiths are invited to attend and refreshments will be served.

The talk will include stories from a recent trip to the Artesia family detention center by members of the NMFCIJ. For more information, contact Justin Remer-Thamert at nmfc4ij@gmail.com.