NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A native of Ecuador living in Connecticut has become the second person this summer to take sanctuary inside a New Haven church to avoid deportation.
Marco Reyes, a father of three, entered the U.S. illegally in 1997 and has been living in Meriden. He was supposed to board a plane Tuesday.
His attorney, Erin O’Neil-Baker, says Reyes instead took refuge inside the First and Summerfield United Methodist Church in New Haven.
Reyes’ supporters say a family member was recently murdered in Ecuador and he fears for his life if he returns.
Last month, U.S. Customs and Immigration officials agreed to reconsider the case of a woman, who’s been living in Norwalk, after she took sanctuary inside the Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal church rather than board a plane for Guatemala.
____
This story has been corrected to show that Reyes’ attorney’s last name is O’Neil-Baker, not O’Neil-Bakers.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.