UUs in the Immigration Court Hallways: A Major Breakthrough for Our Volunteers

For months, our congregation has proudly partnered with the San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP) in the FAITH (Faithful Accompaniment in Trust & Hope) program to accompany immigrants to immigration court or ICE check-in. On May 8, a small but mighty delegation from FAITH—including Bishop Michael Pham, Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ, Patrick Corrigan, Nancy Natilson, and Dcn. Chris Hulburt—stepped into a meeting that could change the way we do our work in San Diego.
​
They sat down with three Commanders of the Federal Protective Service (FPS): Cmdr. Chris Clanor, Cmdr. John Rodriguez, and Cmdr. Kevin Rankin. The vibe? Professional, courteous, and surprisingly eager to help.

Here is the breakdown of what you need to know as we continue our mission at the San Diego Federal Building Complex.

Cleaning Up the "Grey Shirt" Conduct
FAITH didn’t hold back. Nancy shared her personal accounts of verbal abuse and vulgar language from the private security guards (the "grey shirts") at the front door. Patrick followed up with a story of a guard claiming to be a "federal agent."

The verdict: The FPS commanders were visibly upset. They confirmed that this behavior is intolerable and promised to take action.

Pro-Tip for Volunteers: If you feel threatened or intimidated by anyone in the building—whether it’s a security guard or an ICE agent—you have two clear options:

1. Ask to speak to a supervisor.
2. Ask for FPS.
   They have promised to respond.

Know Your Rights: Praying and Meditation are Not Loitering
This is the big win. Cmdr. Clanor, the officer responsible for the entire San Diego federal complex, clarified a major point of contention:

• The Hallway Rule: If you are visibly wearing your FAITH button, you are permitted to stand and pray/meditate in the hallways.
• The "Loitering" Myth: Our presence is not considered "loitering," and it is not prohibited by the posted signs.
• Jurisdiction: Only FPS has jurisdiction in the hallways. Not ICE. Not any other agency.

Cmdr. Clanor is sending an email to the leadership of every agency in the complex today to make sure they know: FAITH volunteers are authorized to stand, pray, and accompany others in all common areas.

A Dose of Reality: Public Spaces and Privacy
FAITH brought up the fact that federal agents have been following, photographing, and videotaping our volunteers. While it feels invasive, Cmdr. Clanor was direct: they can’t stop it. In a public space, anyone can be recorded or followed. It’s a bit of a "nature of the beast" situation, so stay focused on the mission and don't let it rattle you.

The Road Ahead: The "Leasing Agencies"
While we’ve secured the hallways, the rooms inside the building are a different story. Spaces like the ICE waiting room and the courtrooms are controlled by "leasing agencies" (ICE, EOIR, IRS, etc.).

To get the same level of clarity for those specific rooms, we’ll need to schedule separate meetings with those agencies. We’re on it.

The bottom line? You have the right to be there, you have the right to pray, and the highest security authority in the building has our back. Keep wearing those buttons with pride—we’re making a difference, one hallway at a time.

---