What is Sanctuary Today? 
A public commitment to walking beside immigrants, mixed status families, refugees, and other 
targeted communities to uphold the dignity, due process and full acceptance and participation 
of all people in our society through protection, support and advocacy. 
- Provided by the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity 

What does Sanctuary Look Like?  
1. Advocacy (letters of support for immigrants, letters to representatives, vigils, rallies, 
marches etc…) 
2. Accompaniment – Main Area of Need Where Congregations can help 
3. Networks of Protection and Rapid Response – Multicultural Center of Marin 
4. Housing Hospitality 

So why call it Sanctuary if we are really providing Accompaniment? 
We adopted this term because it has a larger meaning than it previously did in the 80’s, and it 
has still been the term that most organizing groups in the Bay Area and nationally are using to 
address the need. 

The name of our network is the Marin Network of Accompanying Congregations to reflect the 
service of Accompaniment. Our focus with this name is to ensure we are not misleading 
families in need to expect one thing, when we are offering something different. That is our 
focus, to protect and provide aid to families who are going through the process of detainment 
and deportation. 

Who is the immigrant community in Marin? 
They are our neighbors! They are families who have been working in our communities, their 
children going to school with our children, worshipping with us, and supporting our 
communities. 

They are the Hugo Mejia’s who have done tremendous community work and had his 
community not stood in support and fought for his release, he would have been deported, 
stripped away from his family and his community. 

They are like the many people that came here historically for a better opportunity, or fleeing 
horrific violence, like most of our families came here. They are no different than any of us.