The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, recently wrote a guest essay in Newsday calling attention to the fear keeping immigrant families away from church, community programs, and even food pantries. “All people deserve to access the church and to receive care from our ministries without fear of deportation,” Bishop Provenzano wrote. “But County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s decision to deputize local officers as federal immigration agents won’t make our community better or safer. It will only push people further into the shadows, away from God’s light.”
In his essay, Bishop Provenzano explained that while the Diocese has long worked alongside Nassau County law enforcement—especially in correctional ministry—this new agreement undermines trust and drives people into isolation. He emphasized that the mission of the Church is rooted in love of neighbor, justice, and the dignity of every human being—values that must extend to all, regardless of immigration status.
Read Bishop Provenzano’s full essay in Newsday.
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