Deportation Defense Legal and Mutual Aid Fund February 2026 Press Release

DDR Legal and Mutual Aid Fund Enters Third Phase, Announces $250,000 goal by Easter

All of the following individuals have received money because their congregation applied for a Deportation Defense Response Legal and Mutual Aid Grant. Thanks be to God!

• A pastor connected to a Church of the Brethren congregation received money to be used for legal fees as their asylum application is being reviewed.
• The spouse of a member of a Church of the Brethren congregation was arrested and is scheduled to be deported after driving with an international license instead of a state license; the spouse received money to deal with the legal questions since it could be 10 years before she can apply to invite him back if he gets deported.
• Another grant was used to pay for rental assistance and necessary items for a newborn baby and mother who had been evicted due to uncertain immigration status.
• Someone from Ukraine in the United States on a visa will get grant money to begin the process of renewing that visa.

Since the initial request made at the 2025 Annual Conference to fund the work of the Deportation Defense Response Team—an initiative of several church districts with the Intercultural Ministries of the Church of the Brethren and On Earth Peace—more than $220,000 has been raised to provide more than 90 grants to Church of the Brethren congregations. The grants have been distributed to members and families who are caught in the current US immigration system.

As of February 2026, 21 individuals connected to the Church of the Brethren have been detained, and of those, 12 have been deported. Every individual has connections to family members left without an income provider or living in fear of being arrested, detained, and/or deported. Many of these people came to the United States through pathways that were legal at the time they came. Even if they came illegally to escape a treacherous or inhumane situation, they are human beings, made in the image of God. They are the neighbors Jesus commanded us to love, and they are worthy of our efforts to care for them as our sisters and brothers.

“For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face” (Psalm 11:7, NRSVue).

The original challenge to the church was to raise $100,000 for the Deportation Defense Response Legal and Mutual Aid Fund. Church members and congregations gave generously. We are about $30,000 short of the current goal of $250,000.

Will you help us meet this goal by Easter?

Some congregations have held fundraisers; others have taken up love offerings; many families and individuals have given directly. The need continues for this mutual aid fund, in which we take care of our own. As we celebrate the news of a risen Savior, how fitting to be able to share this continued support with sisters and brothers who are suffering.

Links and information: 

The Legal and Mutual Aid Fund is described at www.onearthpeace.org/immigrant_legal_mutual_aid_fund 

Donate online to the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund: www.onearthpeace.org/legal_mutual_aid_fund_donations 

Mail checks to Atlantic Southeast District with “DDR” in the memo line. Checks can be sent to Atlantic Southeast District, 1501 Stenewahee Ave, Sebring, FL 33870. To send checks larger than $10,000 and for any other questions contact Beth Sollenberger at [email protected] 

Congregations needing financial help for church members facing personal and legal expenses related to immigration, asylum, or related processes may apply for grants from the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund by contacting [email protected] or 561-647-8981 to receive the application form. 

*Legal Fund donations sent to On Earth Peace or the Atlantic Southeast District Church of the Brethren are designated funds and do not contribute to those organizations’ annual budget needs. 

On Earth Peace is a Kingian Nonviolence leadership development organization and an agency of the Church of the Brethren, with a mission to develop and walk with leaders and communities who work for justice and peace. For more information: www.OnEarthPeace.org