“For me, sanctuary is not about housing people, but we have really come to shape it as being a form of public witness for immigrant rights, stories, and voices and leadership as well as resistance to the policies both nationally and locally,” Shanti Elliott said.  

Shanti Elliott, Parker’s Former Civic Engagement Director, has been a crucial member of the Jovel family’s life since they arrived in Chicago. Currently, Elliott is the Chicago Public Schools Service Learning Manager, in addition to working in a serious capacity for a number of immigrant-rights organizations. Elliott is also the Immigration Justice Leader at Lake Street Church.  

The Jovel family has been living in Lake Street Church since 2015. Lake Street Church, located in Evanston, Illinois is a sanctuary church, a place which provides a safe haven for Central American refugees fleeing civil conflict who are trying to avoid law enforcement officials.

Jovel and her family came to the US, when the large and violent MS-13 gang killed her husband in their home in El Salvador — a turning point for the family, after having experienced years of violence. Jovel felt as though her family was threatened and could not live their lives safely. They embarked on a journey to the US to escape the violence of their homeland. Jovel has three children, two young boys and Yesica, an elder daughter, who is currently 21 years old.

When Jovel and her family arrived at the border of Mexico and the United States, they applied for asylum, testifying to the Department of Homeland Security that they were not safe in El Salvador. Jovel and her two sons were allowed entrance into the United States, but Yesica was not. Yesica Jovel, who was no longer a minor at the time of entrance to the United States, was detained and sent back to El Salvador.  

After returning to El Salvador, Yesica felt more threatened than ever, according to Elliott.  She was alone, scared, and targeted by gang members through threats of harassments, murder, and sexual assault. She knew her life was in danger and felt there was nothing to do but flee once again to the United States. Yesica returned to the U.S.-Mexico border, this time alone. She testified about the horrors she faced, including being sexually assaulted and attacked in her home country. Yesica has been held in detention in Houston, Texas since attempting to cross for the second time over two years ago.

When Jovel and her family came to Chicago, they came directly to Lake Street Church, asking to make that their home while they waited to be granted residency in the United States.  

Elliott said that the process of becoming a sanctuary church was not easy. “It is a big question for a church to become a sanctuary church,” Elliott said. “We went through about eight months of deliberation over what this would mean for the church, the legal ramifications, and why would this be important, and what we needed to know. There was a lot of learning and a lot of conversations.”  

When the Jovels arrived at Lake Street Church a little over three and a half years ago, the family was welcomed by the church with open arms.  Elliott knew that housing and helping the Jovels would be a challenge and new experience for the congregants, but was ready to do whatever it took. Elliott has grown very close with the family since they arrived in Chicago.  “She is really like my sister,” Elliot said of Jovel. “We talk every day and have holidays together now.”

Since Jovel arrived in early 2015, the church and its large community have not only been helping her and her two sons, but have actively worked with Yesica, who is currently being held in Houston.  Elliott said that Lake Street Church has been helped by members of the church community, Chicago community, as well as by people down in Houston.

For the past two years, lawyer Matt Nickson, who is based in Houston, has been working with Yesica and her family pro bono. On top of the help the family has been receiving from Nickson, Elliott said that a young woman named Hope who is heavily involved in Houston immigration issues has visited Yesica once a week since she was detained in 2016.  Hope is a member of the Houston community who learned of the case through immigration networks in the area and took interest.

Yesica has not yet been deported, but according to Elliott, has come to it four times. “It is a small victory that she has not been deported yet,” Elliott said.  “It is significant but it’s not what we want. What we want is for her to be released, so she can rejoin her family. However, deportation is a death sentence for her.”

Beginning this year, with the help of Elliott, a group of 15 Parker juniors has been working with the Joval family. This group, through Civic Lab, have spoken with Jovel, written letters to Yesica, and have been figuring out various ways they can get involved in the case.

Last week, when the group of 15 spoke with Jovel, they learned of her life’s story and hardships. “It was incredibly moving,” Upper School English teacher Matt Laufer said. “I guess I knew it would be given how incredibly raw she is and how difficult it must be for her to get through a day.” Laufer led the group to go meet with Jovel. “Maybe she gets something sort of therapeutic about telling the story, but I think it is also painful to tell the story.  It is incredibly generous for her to tell us.”