Beware of Thought Police

There is a dangerous and insidious movement gaining more influence in our society which must be exposed to be a false narrative of lies, generating fear, and creating a deep divide of racism and hate which is affecting every segment of our lives.

I call this movement the age of the “thought police” where there is an attempt to control and ensure conformity to the ultimate point that differing opinions are disallowed or shutdown completely.

The "USA Thought Police" are alive and well, but do not represent a movement of Light and Truth. Instead it seeks to destroy the voice of Christians who dare to speak out against this malicious  movement by liars, seeking to destroy and put a stop to a message of good will. 

We have seen where certain topics are not allowed to be discussed or debated in high schools or colleges. If you carry the label of a conservative, in many cases you are prohibited from making presentations. If you are a Christian and wish to participate in discussions or debates, many persons are eliminated because of their faith. 

This liberal narrative moves “under the radar” calling for complete conformity to this new age thinking that condemns differences which are prescribed by counterfeit prophets of integrity. Their message is inaccurate or distorted and when confronted, they are the first to call upon the "thought police" to enforce their fraudulent and distorted interpretation of their repulsive opinions.

In fact any message which
goes against this reprehensible wave of liberal thought which is attempting to controll our lives, calls upon those of us who oppose this repugnant philosophy to be prepared to defend our way of life. 

In Ephesians 5:6, the Bible encourages us to be careful what vain and erroneous philosophies gain control of our lives. 

"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." God's message is clear for those who abandon the Gospel for vain words, they will face God's judgment. 

In verse 7 of Ephesians 5, God's Word is clear as to what position we are to take. "Be not ye therefore partakers with them."

We must have a strong sense of urgency to be more aware of this reprehensible  narrative controlling fabricated lies and vain words about our beliefs as Christians. We cannot ignore the false narrative that seeks to destroy our way of life. 

These treacherous and deceitful teachers call for us to abandon our affirmation of Christ and His likeness by allowing the hate and fear to clash with our God ordained values by linking them to racism, bigotry, and deliberate distortions of our message. 

If you love our country, inspite of the unjust and immoral decisions of the past, if you believe in the Bible which is God's Word for our lives today, we are branded as racists and reckless or impulsive. 

God encourages each of us who claim to be followers of Christ to awaken from our stupor, to arise from our spirit of rejecting Life, and to walk in the Light Christ gives us to reject darkness.

The Scripture is clear and very plain for those who seek the Light of Jesus Christ.  "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."    Ephesians 5:14         

We are to be extremely careful that we do not allow sin to enter into our hearts. We are persons of light and it should be clear when darkness, that is sin, trys to replace the Light. We are in constant danger of allowing our guard down if we do not diligently follow the Life ordained by God. 

The Pulpit Bible Commentary explains our position against the evil counterfeit narrative which is attempting to devastate and crush our testimony of Light.  

Ephesians 5:11 states, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

"We are admonished to have no fellowship with sin nor sinners. Works of darkness are sinful works. These evil works that attempt to control our values and principles, try to control our conversations and way of life, come from the darkness of ignorance,  seeking to conceal the darkness of this evil and ever present narrative, and ultimately will lead to the darkness of hell if we continue to follow this fabricated evil way". 

Can you imagine if the Gospel had been shut down by the haughty leaders of influence like the Pharisees or Sadducees during introductory period of the New Gospel? What would have become of the this period of Christian history?

In Mark 1:1-2, we find the actual beginning of a new Gospel message of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist would announce to the multitudes that someone greater than he would come on the scene proclaiming a not a new false narrative of the New Gospel, but a way of life which would ignite the beginning of the early “thought police”, whose false enforcement of the new message would be tainted by fear and Intimidation?

In fact the opponents of Christ called His movement a political one because He called for alligence to the Kingdom of God. Rome did not allow anyone to speak against the Roman government. But Christ was speaking of a higher kingdom and did come to be Crowned the new Leader or High Priest. 

[1] “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
[2]As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee”.

John the Baptist, the person who was thought of as some strange eccentric madman who claimed a new
messenger was coming, someone whom John the Baptist felt unworthy to even unlace the new messenger's sandals. John was actually proclaiming “the beginning of the Gospel who was Jesus Christ".

This is so very significant in that this new Gospel was founded on Truth and Light, and would change the world. 

Keeping in mind, John the Baptist was a strange “character who was clothed in camels hair, with a girdle of skin about his loins, eating locusts and wild honey”. No doubt, it took a lot for people to accept the message of John the Baptist. 

[7] “And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose”.

Can you image having this outcast and heavy bearded looking person being your public relations guy, claiming that you were the new up and coming representative of this new message, and going further by claiming that this new preacher would also claim to be The Son of God?

The Bible tells that immediately the thought police went into action to discredit not only the new
Gospel, but to look for ways to destroy Jesus Christ as someone who also made the ultimate claim He was able to forgive sins, heal the sick and actually call himself the of Son of God?

The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted no part of a message that would not only question their way of life, but also call them sinners in need of accepting Jesus Christ as their Salvation. They too needed to be seperated from their life of hate, fear, idolatry and whose egotistical attitudes intimidated others by the way they chose to live. 

Claiming to give more donations than the poor, dressing in the finest robes of the day, and claiming to be much closer to God because of their self egotistical idolatry.

Today, Christianity is still condemned as a false narrative by many present day Pharisees, and where Christ-like individuals are ridiculed for their alliance to Jesus Christ, where God is questioned and condemned in our schools, public square, and by the new weapon of social media which is able to spread lies, fear, and ability to cast Christians as evil and hateful narrow minded purveyors of a false teaching in real time!  

The evil masters of the social media desire to control the values respecting life by supporting abortion and infanticide, they ridicule  those who voice a message of Life and Love. 

In fact many Christians nominated to judicial positions are often criticized by present day Sadducees as controlled by Christian dogma, thus making them unfit to serve as public servants. Unfit to serve because they support a life controlled by Light and not false messages of darkness. 

I believe without any doubt that the social media platforms are controlled and influenced by an evil agenda to disallow Christians who may have differing religious views, by intimidating and disallowing Christians from speaking out. 

When Christians do manage to share their values, in many cases, the message is censored or misrepresented by those who control the many platforms of the public narrative.

The real issue of the social media is its ability to influence or taint the public discourse with lies and fake news in real time. By controlling the message, evil forces are able to spread lies and disinformation.

Keep in mind, the evil one is considered “the big liar disguised as an angel of light”. When the absurdity of those who are out to censor, control, or shut down voices of reason and truth, we must be willing to stand for our values against the evil one himself! We must allow our light to outshine the darkness and evil of those who seek to destroy the real message of hope and trust.

The early Apostles were often run out of town for preaching the Gospel, they were condemned and criticized in the public square or at religious events, they had to hide or run for their lives, and many were stoned or beheaded by evil minded forces controlled by the evil one.

If you believe there are no evil influences affecting public policy or enacting laws that embrace infanticide, or that call for violent harassment or spreading hate and lies against Christians or other people of good will, and that demand their evil way is the correct way and threaten Christ-like individuals to conform to their way of life controlled and dominated by sin, you must be shaken from your sleep. 

If we do not share the Gospel, stand up for the Message of the Cross, defend our values and Christian-Judeo principalities on which our Republic was founded, and ensure we are not silenced by hurtful laws that are often enacted to only destroy or control our Spiritual message and determination for the Gospel, and to create and spread confusion and hate in our hearts and minds, and in those who seek a better way. 

It is so important to always keep as our anthem the truth that greater is He who abides in my heart and soul than he who is in the world.

No thought police, no communication technology, no group of evil and hate can ever knock us from our path, and we must determine to never allow a false narrative to take the place of the Gospel.

FLI – LATINO FAITH INITIATIVE

Rev Fidel “Butch “ Montoya

Always Remember : “GOD LISTENS”

FALLING ASLEEP IN CHURCH

I am sure many of you may recall as a young child when you were in church, and it became so difficult to listen to the preacher and to concentrate on every word that was being preached. This even happens sometimes when you looked forward to listening to a particular popular and dynamic preacher.

Perhaps for some, you still have a problem listening and concentrating to the Words spoken by the preacher. Whether it is Sunday morning or mid week service, you may find yourself fighting to stay awake, or at least look interested.

In Acts, Chapter 20 we find a story of a young man who had difficulty listening to the Word preached by the Apostle Paul. At this particular time and place, Paul was basically running away from groups of people who were plotting to kill him.

I have been in many church services where the preacher seemed to go on and on. You may have come to the church service with every intention of listening and following the teachings of the preacher, but instead you found yourself fighting to stay awake and trying to make sense out of what the preacher was trying to instill in our hearts.

I remember many years ago as a small child falling asleep under the pew, wrapped in Mom's sweater and Dad's overcoat. Listening contently as I slowly fell asleep. I was lucky that I was under one of the pews in a nice and warm church.

In the Book of Acts, we read the story of a young man who fell asleep with far more serious consequences. He had gone to hear a great preacher. Granted the room was not very large, candles provided the light, and the room was full of people who wanted to hear the great orator the Apostle Paul. This provided ideal environment to fall asleep.

Eutychus, simply called "a young man" was listening to the great teacher and Apostle Paul  preaching. He found a comfortable location on the third floor window to sit and listen.

The Bible teaches that Paul at one time was the outrageous persecutor of the early believers. Paul was present when the stoning of Stephen took place, and no doubt in other situations where early believers were stoned, or forced to flee for their lives from the hostile and violent persecution. 

Paul was considered a very intelligent and articulate speaker. Paul had the best education available at the time and opportunities that helped to make him become known as one of the most knowledgeable Rabbis. Paul had even been tutored by the greatest Rabbi and teacher of his time, Geminel. There was no doubt Paul had studied with great Rabbinical theologians and knew what he was preaching about.

We learn from the Bible that after Paul had his encounter with the Spirit of God on the Road to Damacus, where God cried out to Paul as to why he was persecuting the early believers of the Way. Paul was known as a firece opponent of the new teachings and was feared by early believers as a violent man who sought to stop more people from becoming believers of the Way and from dedicating their lives to Christ's teachings. Paul persecuted many early Christians and lead violent attacks against the believers of the teachings of The Way.

Eutychus probably had heard of the Apostle Paul's reputation as a great teacher and follower of the Way. Perhaps he wanted to know why Paul changed his alligence from hunting down early Believers to becoming one of the most powerful orators who now proclaimed the Good News and his personal testimony of following Christ's teachings and example. 

As Paul was moving from city to city and under a lot of pressure at this particular time from some people who were plotting his death, I am quite confident that when they heard Paul was coming to their village, many people flocked to listen to him preach and explain the teachings of his personal experience and encounter on the Road to Damacus.      

We know that Saul, later changing his name to Paul was on the way to Damacus to persecute more early believers in the new gospel. This is when God called him out to become "an illustrious professor and preacher" of the message of Christ's ministry. 

The Bible tells us God confronted Paul as He traveled to do his dirty work against early believers. "He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Acts 9:4 NIV

Later Paul would become one of the most powerful speakers of the Gospel as he traveled about teaching others of the teachings of Christ.  "While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by opponents of the Gospel against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia". Acts of the Apostles 20:2‭-‬3 NLT

Since this was Paul's last service here, he was preaching under a lot of pressure sharing his important message and fighting against the time he had to leave early the next morning. There is no question that in the back of his mind, Paul knew he had to stay ahead of those plotting to take his life. Here for a short time, Paul was able to stop worrying about those who were looking for him and instead gathered with local Believers to celebrate the Lord's Supper.

"On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight". Acts of the Apostles 20:7 NLT

I can tell you there is no greater urgency to preach the Word when a pastor feels the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to preach. When a preacher in under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, there is simply not a more powerful message.

We believe that as a preacher or as one called to share The Word, if the Holy Spirit impresses upon their heart to share a certain message or topic, that message must be shared taking the time to fully explain the teaching prompted by The Spirit.

Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, the Bible tells he kept preaching  until midnight. We know the third story room lit with flickering candles was probably much too small for the crowd that gathered. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy and soon was asleep and fell three stories to his death below. 

Imagine the fall of Eutychus from the third floor window falling to his death below. No question it caused quite a bit of commotion,  interrupting the preaching as people ran to the scene of this young man's fall, only to find that Eutychus had died from his fall. People were probably in shock and no doubt crying over the death of Eutychus. 

The Bible tells us Paul immediately went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 

After the young was miraculously risen from his death, they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left on his journey. 

Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved. Can you imagine the talk of the village the next day was without question the miraculous rising of Eutychus from the dead and the powerful presence of Paul as he prayed over Eutychus, raising him from the dead. .

The lesson here is not necessarily long winded preachers, but our state of mind and dedication to prepare our hearts to receive God's Word. No doubt you can fall asleep during a long sermon, but whose fault is that? If you do not take care of your human physical needs, it can affect your spiritual standing as well.

The issue we must be very aware of is that the evil one will take advantage of any circumstance to interrupt your attention to even the Word of The Lord. We must be aware of the evil one who roams around seeking whom he may devour. We must be spiritually empowered to confront the evil one in all situations.

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour". 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Good thing for Eutychus that a preacher committed to living the life of a person filled with The Holy Spirit, was able to pray and immediately take Eutychus in his arms and shout to the crowd,  “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” Eutychus was brought back to life and did not suffer any bad consequences for falling asleep and falling three stories.

When we are listening a great preacher, may we pay attention with intense interest, with spiritual awareness, and profess in our heart and mind to grasp the message, knowing we may find ourselves in a place or time where the evil one will try to distract us from applying the preached Word to our lives.

LFI ~ LATINO FAITH INITIATIVE

Rev Fidel "Butch" Montoya

REMEMBER: GOD LISTENS!

Remember: GOD LISTENS

Today in our hostile political and immoral social environment, there is growing desperation, fear of one another, bigotry reflected in almost every civic encounter, growing anxiety, and panic attacks, and a nation divided by hate and mistrust that overwhelms our country and points to our inability to solve our problems.

It seems we have placed far too much trust in our own human wisdom by believing we alone without any Godly intervention, can solve the many crises that have crippled our founding Judeo/Christian principles and values. 

In the mid-term 2018 election, there was a sense of hope where we thought we could vote away the many serious civic and political issues created by our own selfishness and lack of national unity. 

Instead, today we find our government deadlocked by further accusations of corruption and a confrontational mindset which may well destroy our republic and position as the world leader in standing for justice and righteousness. Also clearly not understanding the political ethic of compromise.

In the 11th Chapter of Genesis, there is a Biblical lesson we may well learn from the people created after the Great Flood who came together speaking one language and a common speech. 

Because they thought they could accomplish anything they placed in their heart and used their own selfish will together, they no longer had to lean on God or even acknowledging Him as our God. They gathered together with the idea to build the largest tower known to man, the infamous Tower of Babel.

"Come let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves…. “ 

They wanted to demonstrate their superior knowledge and ability to communicate and work together to prove they could solve any issue they confronted and to demonstrate to the new world, that they could take care of their own problems without looking to God for direction. 

They also were filled with pride and selfishness and wanted to make a name for themselves. 

The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them". Genesis 11:6 

They had actually started to build this new tower with bricks instead of stone. They used tar as the mortar which was a new building material at this time. It could be said humankind had developed a new building technology, where they felt there was no need for God in their plans. 

"They said to each other, Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly. They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar". Genesis 11:3 

Imagine if we spoke one language and one common speech and had common goals and had our own selfish plans to prove to God we could resolve our problems and build a tower that reached into the heavens as had never been done before in human history. 

By constructing this towering monument to personal greed and pride we could show the world we simply didn't need God in our lives or great dreams for our future. 

We should not forget they found themselves in this predicament because they were a new people that were created out of the Great Flood. 

The Great Flood was sent to destroy humankind because they had forgotten God and felt they didn’t need God to direct their lives and wanted to live as they pleased. They had lost all honor and respect for God. 

We know from the Bible account, God destroyed the old sinful world, saving Noah and his family with animals of our world to preserve life for a new world.

Without God in their plans, the new people begin to build their great tower to the heavens, and once again man begins to think they didn't need God and could build this great tower that proved they were as creative as God himself. 

God created humankind so that we would celebrate, honor and worship God, not so we would go off on our own with no regard for him. To disregard and dishonor God in spite of His promise to be with us no matter what issues of sin we encountered. 

Right now in our society, there is a belief that we don’t need God to address our national earthly problems much less in our plans to build a new society on Mars in a futuristic space colony. 

We are hooked on the false and broken promises of politicians that we believe will help us to get us by.

It is time we quit relying on man-made solutions and instead of building monuments to humankind’s achievements, and that we must realize we need to call upon God to provide the necessary leadership to keep us on the perfect path. 

Just as God created confusion and disruption, and took away the ability for these people building the tower to communicate with one another, the plans for the great tower were destroyed. 

"So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel —because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth". Genesis 11:8‭-‬9 

We must not rely on any person but must put our trust and faith in God. 

Politicians have proven very clearly they can not bring us out of the confusion and conflict we face. God has clearly created a situation where language and speech confusion has prevented our political infrastructure from being unable to lead us to a place where we can out-create God and do not need His Leadership and Godly Grace. 

If we want to achieve great plans and seek Godly Wisdom, we must quit relying on our own plans and false dreams and the broken promises of our misdirected politicians who want to lead us further from God to more failure and defeat.

I believe very strongly that we are living in a time when the cultural wars are meant to bend and break our faith in God. Without placing our faith and trust in the teachings of the Holy Bible shared with us from generation to generation will cause our life of freedom liberty to be destroyed by the evil forces lurking in every civic debate.

God is still the answer for today...and we must stop trying to make a name for ourselves, or reach goals and objectives without acknowledging that our God must lead the way. 

In God we Trust was a motto placed on our money to remind us, we should never rely on personal or humankind material promises or riches, but to always Trust in God. 

(FLI ~ Faith Latino Initiative) Please keep Faith Latino Initiative Ministry in your prayers. 

Together we can serve The Lord and make a difference. 

"Remember GOD LISTENS"

Rev Fidel "Butch" Montoya

Fighting the Spiritual Battle

The school shooting in Parkland,  Florida is clear evidence from the scriptures that this war against violence and death is provoked by the "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places," and "against the schemes of the devil. " 

The horrific toll of death and injuries once again has shocked our nation. The debate about easy accessibility of guns rules the headlines. But the real debate should be lead by faith leaders who know that we are fighting a spiritual battle against demonic forces. 

If we are to succeed in this battle, it will take our calling upon the supernatural and spiritual forces of the Holy Spirit. We cannot stand firm or withstand in the evil day without our calling upon The Lord to intervene "against the rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness. "

We cannot remain silent or complacent during these evil days, but we must "be strong in The Lord and put on the whole armor of God." 

The scripture in Ephesians speaks boldly and clearly to each of us today. May we encourage one another in our spiritual battle against the evil that permeates our society. 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬13 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.6.10-13.ESV

Here is a link to a news article in which the shooter claims demons directed him to kill students at the high school in Parkland, Florida. Nicolas Cruz claims he heard demonic voices telling him to kill students and adults at the school. A clear indictment and spoken evidence that demonic forces are directing the violence and evil in our society.

Demon voices told school gunman to attack cops called to home 39 times. https://tiny.iavian.net/lm0d

May we support one another in coming together to proclaim that in this spiritual battle, we can call upon The Holy Spirit to help us stand firm in full armor.

May our prayers and thoughts be with the victims of the shooting and may we join in the debate as 

Prophetic voices in our communities. 

Dreamers' Bad Dream a Nightmare

Dreamers' Bad Dream a Nightmare
 By Fidel "Butch" Montoya

As the push for comprehensive immigration reform begins to build in the House of Representatives, Mohammad Abdollahi and the leadership of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance (NIYA) made a couple of serious tactical mistakes costing them the support of Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill).   

Congressman Gutierrez agreed to a private meeting last week in Washington, D.C. with NIYA and parents of the Dreamers detained by ICE in El Paso, Texas.  The statement from Rep. Gutierrez stated the meeting was “frank, emotional, and confidential.” Gutierrez had been working with The Department Homeland Security and an attorney representing the detained students to gain their release.

Unfortunately, the meeting was “recorded surreptitiously by NIYA, without the knowledge of the parents, the Congressman or his staff.” NIYA dreamers started a “sit-in” in Congressman Gutierrez’s Office. They were asked to leave, one refused until Rep. Gutierrez called President Obama asking him to release the dreamers detained in El Paso. Gutierrez’s staff called the police and had the dreamer removed from the office.  This incident along with the recording of the meeting, Rep. Gutierrez broke off his relationship with NIYA and their affiliated advocates at DREAMActivists.org. 

The Congressman had become disenchanted with NIYA for their public opposition to immigration reform. Mohammad Abdollahi on his Facebook page stated his opposition. “I am going to kill immigration reform in the most productive way this summer. y’all have seen nothing just yet.”

The outcome of Congressman Gutierrez are the hostile and mean-spirited comments by dreamers that he “should be removed from office.”  “Doesn’t he know he elected to represent us?” I hate to break the news, but for dreamers to making demands on elected officials, doing sit-ins in their offices, after being asked to leave, is not the way to build a coalition. Some of the dreamers seem to have forgotten that Rep. Gutierrez has worked very hard in representing their position. Now he is being called out for being “a sneaking politician.” 

With the pressure of fighting for comprehensive immigration reform, it is difficult as it is, struggling against the Right Wing of the GOP, without having the NIYA working to defeat the legislation.

The reality that many dreamers fail to understand, American Latinos have been strong supporters of immigration reform.  I have been a strong advocate among other faith leaders calling for unity to support reform. However, I will not accept the lack of respect for one of our national leaders, Rep. Luis Gutierrez. 

I will work with those dreamers who will respect our government process, as disappointing and difficult as it is. But I will join Rep. Gutierrez in not supporting the NIYA and their affiliate advocates at DREAMActivists.org.

I believe it is time for some of the more outspoken dreamers that a better strategy is to back off and attempt to salvage the serious miscalculation of recording the meeting “surreptitiously without the knowledge” of the parents and Rep. Gutierrez.

I suspect this outburst of disrespectful comments on the social media will create an even deeper rift between other Latino elected officials and others like myself who are fighting for comprehensive immigration reform. In-spite of the lack of respect and maturity of some dreamers, we will continue to work to pass immigration reform, but will be more careful of the dreamer groups who have rejected the support of members of our national leadership and who would rather not work for comprehensive immigration reform.

Here are copies of the press release issued by Congressman Luis Gutierrez Office.

This afternoon the office of Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D) released the following statement about the #Dream30. On October 16, Gutierrez had supported the group.

Congressman will no longer work with National Immigrant Youth Alliance

(NIYA) or DREAMActivist.org on deportation and detention case

Washington, DC – This afternoon, representatives of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance (NIYA), DREAMActivist.org, and the DREAM30 sat-in at the office of Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) in Washington, D.C.  One activist, who was recently released from detention in El Paso, Texas at the request of Congressman Gutiérrez, was removed from the office of Congressman Gutiérrez for refusing to leave until the Congressman spoke personally with President Obama and secured the release of other detainees.  The activists were asked to leave by U.S. Capitol Police.  Two activists left the office.  A third refused and was escorted out by U.S. Capitol Police.  

The following is a statement from Douglas Rivlin, spokesman and Director of Communication for Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez:

The Office of Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) will no longer work with the National Immigrant Youth Alliance (NIYA) and their affiliated advocates at DREAMActivist.org

The Congressman met privately with the parents of some of the young people in detention in El Paso last week in Washington; a meeting that was frank, emotional, and confidential.  But that meeting was also recorded surreptitiously by NIYA, without the knowledge of the parents, the Congressman or his staff.  It is unfortunate that the actions of the advocates in this case are preventing this office from being able to work with parents and family who are understandably and rightly concerned for the safety of their son or daughter.

The illicit tape recording of a confidential conversation was the latest chapter in a long and difficult relationship with NIYA and its leaders.  The NIYA leaders have expressed their strong opposition to immigration reform (LINK), have expressed disturbing racism (LINK), and have put young people in harm’s way.  In talking with the families, the Congressman and his staff believe that the parents and families were being manipulated by NIYA and its leaders and were not well informed about the law and the legal process.

The Congressman is warning parents that these actions can hurt the chances that young people will be able to return to the United States or live legally in the United States.  Only one in ten asylum cases like these are approved and a deportation or removal could put future legal status in doubt.  The Congressman continues to fight for the ability of DREAMers and their parents to remain in the U.S. or to enter legally if they have been removed or left the United States.

The Congressman’s staff had been working with the Department of Homeland Security and the attorney for the detainees to help secure their release.  The Congressman’s staff has also communicated directly with a number of the parents, siblings and supporters of the detainees in the past several weeks.