A church in Amherst has become the first in western Massachusetts to shelter someone facing imminent deportation.
38 year old Lucio Perez, a father of three from Springfield, was ordered by federal immigration authorities to purchase an airline ticket and board a plane Thursday to Guatemala, the country he fled more than 20 years ago.
Instead, the un-documented immigrant took refuge in the First Congregational Church Wednesday night.
Rev. Vicki Kemper said Perez is welcome to stay as long as he likes.
"This is not an action we take lightly, but at the same time, it is an action we feel we must take," said Kemper.
According to Perez’s supporters, his case is before the Board of Immigration Appeals where a resolution could take months.
