The Archdiocese of New Orleans, which encompasses the area where Fairfield mother of four Maribel Trujillo Diaz is incarcerated as she awaits deportation, is joining the effort to pray and advocate for release back to her family.
“We just had a conversation with them today, and they are eager to jump into action as well, so right now they’re looking into how they can be in solidarity with this effort, as well,” said Tony Stieritz, director of Catholic Social Action for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Trujillo, who has been in the U.S. illegally since 2002, is a mother of four children ages 3-14 who are all U.S. citizens. She was detained by immigration enforcement agents at her Fairfield home last week and will be deported next Wednesday, according to Mexican Consulate officials.
Another possibility: Seeking help from Pope Francis.
Asked whether Pope Francis was aware of Trujillo’s family and would be praying for her, Stieritz said: “None of us have tried to contact the Vatican about this, but everything’s on the table at this point, so I think we don’t want to leave any stone unturned. I think it’s something worth considering, how we might do that, if we need all the forces at work here.”
Officials from Cincinnati’s archdiocese also have been in contact with Ohio’s two U.S. senators, Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, and Rob Portman, a Republican, in efforts to plead for discretion by the administration of President Donald Trump, and have federal officials release Trujillo, who has volunteered as a lector who reads scriptures at St. Julie Billiart Church in Hamilton.
Among other things, “We’ve had people calling the (Department of Homeland Security) offices, and we’re urging Senators Brown and Portman to go as high as they possibly can, if they’re hitting a brick wall elsewhere,” Stieritz said.
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