Monday’s News & Ideas - 6/23/2025

San Diego clergy visit federal immigration court to bear witness during crackdown on migrants
The Associated Press: About a dozen religious leaders from the San Diego area visited federal immigration court Friday to serve as witnesses to “what goes down” as some cases arising from the Trump administration’s migration crackdown are heard, an organizer said.
The Guardian: ‘I’m scared to death to leave my house’: Immigrants are disappearing from the streets — can US cities survive?

Harriet Tubman’s church in Canada was a crucial force in the abolitionist movement. It’s still standing today
The Guardian: Located in Ontario, the church provided shelter and aid to Black Americans who participated in the Underground Railroad to escape slavery in the U.S.

Trump administration quietly continues to admit unknown number of white Afrikaner refugees
Religion News Service: Americans are still celebrating World Refugee Day, but there are far fewer of them since President Trump shut down refugee resettlement for all but white South African Afrikaners.

Clerk who denied same-sex marriage licenses in 2015 is still fighting Supreme Court’s ruling
The Associated Press: The Kentucky county clerk who became known around the world for her opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage is still arguing in court that it should be overturned.

Investigation finds Rev. Barber did not misdirect funds to pay his ex alimony
Religion News Service: An independent investigation by Repairers of the Breach found that Barber did not use or direct organizational funds for personal benefit.

The Spark

Crimes of the century 
New York Magazine writes on how Israel, with the help of the U.S., broke not only Gaza but the foundations of humanitarian law.*

*access is limited for nonsubscribers