© 2024 Interlochen
CLASSICAL IPR | 88.7 FM Interlochen | 94.7 FM Traverse City | 88.5 FM Mackinaw City IPR NEWS | 91.5 FM Traverse City | 90.1 FM Harbor Springs/Petoskey | 89.7 FM Manistee/Ludington
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Three months later, Detroit church still providing sanctuary for Albanian immigrant, family

Ded and Flora Rranxburgaj
Cynthia Canty
/
Michigan Radio
Ded and Flora Rranxburgaj

 Stateside's conversations with Ded and Flora Rranxburgaj, immigrants from Albania living at the Central United Methodist Church in Detroit; Caitlin Homrich-Knieling with Michigan United; and Arthur Park, Chair of the Peace and Justice Committee at the Central United Methodist Church.

Ded and Flora Rranxburgaj
Credit Cynthia Canty / Michigan Radio
/
Michigan Radio
Ded and Flora Rranxburgaj

The concept of seeking sanctuary in a church is an ancient one. 

 

As the United States toughens its immigration stance though, people facing deportation are turning to churches for sanctuary. 

One such case is happening right now in downtown Detroit. 

 

Ded Rranxburgaj is an Albanian immigrant who is facing deportation. He'd been allowed to stay in the U.S. for years because his wife Flora suffers from multiple sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair. 

 

Ded and Flora turned to Central United Methodist Church to seek sanctuary. They've been living at the church since January. 

 

Stateside recently visited the church to learn their story. Along with the Rranxburgaj couple, we spoke with CaitlinHomrich-Knieling, an immigrant family defense organizer withMichigan United, and Arthur Park, chair of the Peace and Justice Committee at the Central United Methodist Church.

 

Listen to the conversation above to hear what might happen to the family if Ded were deported, how the church has been supporting the family during this time, and what the advocates would like the public to know about the family's case.

 

(Subscribe to the Stateside podcast on iTunesGoogle Play, or with this RSS link

Copyright 2021 Michigan Radio. To see more, visit Michigan Radio.

Read more about the Stateside.