A Joint Statement on the Deaths of Joan Sebastian Guerrero and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo

We are deeply disturbed by the death of Mr. Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. This tragic loss of life comes less than one week after the death of Mr. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, both at the hands of ICE enforcement officials. Neither Mr. Guerrero nor Mr. Salgado were the intended targets connected to the arrest warrants of these ICE operations, yet both were the victims of an irreversible violence, leaving traumatic repercussions for their families, friends, and local communities. 

We pray for the families, friends, and loved ones of Mr. Guerrero and Mr. Salgado, and grieve the loss of our fellow image-bearers and the violation of their God-given human dignity.

The Christian Scriptures unequivocally condemn the unjust taking of human life as an abomination in the eyes of God. The Laws of Moses condemn the innocent shedding of blood as a violation of the sanctity of life (Exodus 23:7, Numbers 35:33, Deuteronomy 27:25). The Proverbs of Solomon remind us that “hands that shed innocent blood” are among the things the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:16–17), and that those who justify the wicked and condemn the righteous are “an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 17:15).

We lament the loss of Joan Sebastian Guerrero and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and call for an end to the escalating patterns of violence against undocumented immigrant communities across our nation.

We call upon our government and civic officials to hold our public institutions and elected leaders accountable and to pursue the full extent of the law when reckless and irresponsible enforcement practices result in the loss of life. We call upon Christian clergy and leaders to press forward in advocating for bi-partisan cooperation towards comprehensive immigration reform that honors the sanctity of every life, citizens and non-citizens alike. Finally, we join the impacted families in calling for full, transparent, and impartial investigations into the untimely deaths of Mr. Guerrero and Mr. Salgado.

At a moment where death clouds our nation’s political and moral imagination, let us choose a politic of life instead. We remain committed to the pursuit of the common good, and advocating for immigration policies that promote peace, justice, and the life abundant (John 10:10).  

Dr. Daniel Montañez

Executive Director, The Center for Public Theology and Migration

Lead Civic Ambassador, The National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC) – New England