When Deacon Juan Felipe Lezcano steps into the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma each Tuesday, he brings more than prayer — he brings presence. For nearly four years, the Deacon from St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Federal Way, Washington, has ministered to men and women held in immigration detention. For many detainees, his is the only friendly face they see all week.
Lezcano’s calling began shortly after the pandemic, when the Archdiocese of Seattle regained access to the facility. “Our Archbishop invited me to serve there once visits reopened,” he recalls. “Now, every week, we offer services so that everyone — no matter where they come from — can have a moment of peace, dignity, and hope.”
That last part matters deeply to him. “People don’t realize how uncertain life is inside,” he explains. “One day, you’re told you’re going home; the next, you’re not. People wait for months — sometimes a year — with no answers.” Even in the chaos, he says, faith sustains people. “We see people from all over the world — Africa, Asia, Europe, Canada — not just Latin America. They come to church because it’s the one place they feel safe.”
Misunderstanding and Mercy
Lezcano has faced mixed reactions when he’s spoken about this work in his parish. “When I preach about our call to serve the immigrant and the poor, most people respond with compassion,” he says. “But there are always some who say, ‘Why are you preaching politics?’ I tell them, ‘I’m preaching the Gospel.’ Scripture calls us to care for the stranger. That’s not politics — that’s faith.”
His team of volunteers now includes eight parishioners, most of them immigrants or green card holders. Together, they rotate Sunday services at the detention center, offering prayer and connection to those living in fear and uncertainty.
Preparing for the Unthinkable
The Deacon’s work reflects the same spirit that inspired the Appleseed Network’s Deportation Preparation Manual for Immigrant Families — a practical guide to help families prepare for detention or deportation before a crisis hits. Like the manual, Lezcano emphasizes readiness rooted in community and faith.
“Families need to have a safety plan,” he says. “Know who will care for your children, who you’ll call if you’re taken. Know your rights. And know that you’re not alone — there are people and resources ready to help.”
That same advice is reflected in DeportationPreparation.org, a free online resource built to help immigrant families create a plan for legal, financial, and child custody issues that may arise if a parent is detained. The manual covers topics from powers of attorney to managing bank accounts to protecting children’s rights — all in English and Spanish.
A Message of Hope
For Lezcano, the work is ultimately about restoring human dignity. “To those serving this population: don’t lose hope,” he says. “And to those in detention — remember that you are not forgotten. You are good people. You are loved. This nation was built by immigrants, and you belong here.”
In his words and ministry, Deacon Lezcano embodies what accompaniment truly means — standing beside those in their most vulnerable moments and helping them see that they are never alone.
Learn more and make your own family plan at DeportationPreparation.org.
