Immigrant receives church sanctuary to avoid deportation
New Haven — A native of Ecuador living in Connecticut has become the second person this summer to take sanctuary inside a New Haven church to avoid a deportation order.
Marco Reyes, a father of three who entered the U.S. illegally in 1997 and has been living in Meriden, was supposed to board a plane on Tuesday.
His attorney, Erin O'Neil-Bakers, says Reyes instead took refuge inside the First and Summerfield United Methodist Church in New Haven.
Reyes' supporters say a family member was recently murdered in Ecuador and he fears for his life if he returns.
Last month, U.S. Customs and Immigration officials agreed to reconsider the case of a Norwalk woman after she took sanctuary inside the Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal church in New Haven rather than board a plane for Guatemala.
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