``When I see this picture, I think that I'm there... I have been locked in here for a long time, I do not go out or take the air, I can not leave. You know, like in prison.” Kadhim Al-Bumohammed,65, is a muslim refugee from Iraq. He came to the US in the 1990s, during the Gulf War. He worked as a linguist for the four army departments of the US military from 2004–2009 in Fort Irwin, California. He trained thousands of soldiers in those five years, and won over 15 medals for his service. Kahdim has three children, all US citizens. Kadhim has lost three appeals to reinstate the refugee status he earned helping the US military in Iraq and California, due in part to misdemeanor charges in 1996 and a missed ICE court hearing. Then the travel ban triggered a roundup by ICE of more than 1,000 Iraqi immigrants. While a federal judge in Michigan ruled that no Iraqis would be deported, ICE is not deterred from detaining refugees on removal status and holding them in custody. People can stay in detention indefinitely. Since July of 2017, Kadhim has been living in the basement of the First Congregational UCC, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, avoiding deportation. He spends most of his time in a small room. “I have insomnia, then I sleep in the morning. I cannot sleep, this got worse when somebody killed one of my children. It was very painful––I could not even bury him because of my situation. I can not leave this church.” Kadhim has serious health problems, including diabetes and heart and respiratory problems. “Since I've been here, I've become sicker. Since my son died, I have not left this room. I feel more sad, more guilty of everything my family is suffering because of me,” he says. “Sometimes I like to look at this image with trees, because I feel the air. You know, I was also a refugee in Saudi Arabia. For 5 years, I lived in camp in the desert,” says Kadhim, “It is not the same to be a refugee in a church, at least in the desert I was not afraid. I could go outside.”

Koran prayer rugs owned by Sujitno Sajuti, a migrant who took refuge in sanctuary at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden, Connecticut, to avoid deportation to his native Indonesia. Sujitno and his wife, Dahlia, have been living as refugees at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden, Connecticut, since receiving a deportation order in October of 2017 to return to Indonesia, their country of origin. An office on the second floor of the church was renovated as a dormitory while they waited for Sijutno’s deportation order to be stopped. The room is very small with one window, a bed, a desk, and a closet. Sunjitno has been living in the US since 1981, when he arrived on a Fulbright Scholarship to study for a master’s degree at Columbia University. He then went on to earn a doctorate degree from the University of Connecticut, where his visa expired during his tenure. He stayed in West Hartford with his wife, who worked as an Indonesian cook and teacher. The couple is known in the city for their commitment to cultural education. After 9/11, many Muslims, including Sujitno, had to register at immigration office. In 2003, a federal judge ordered him to leave the United States. He was arrested by ICE agents and detained for 67 days in 2011. He lived with temporary stay status until October of 2017, when he resorted to taking sanctuary. 2019, Meriden, Colorado

On the left, Dulce Carvajal balancing on the rail of the Chapel inside Holyrood Church with her sister Daniela, on the right, while their brother David cries for not being able to get on the sanctuary rail as trapezists with them. During their free time Dulce, Daniela and David play in different spaces inside the church as if it were the backyard of their new house. Dulce ten, Daniela nine and David three years old live with their mother, Amanda, since mid August of 2017 at the Episcopal church of Holyrood in Washington Heights, in northern Manhattan to avoid the order of deportation against their mother. September, 2017, New York City, USA.

Drawing about the meaning of family made by Bryan Moya, 10 years old. Who has accompanied her mother, the Peruvian immigrant Ingrid Escalada in the fight against her deportation. Since 2017 they have lived in sanctuary at the Universalist Church in Boulder, Colorado.

Drawing about the meaning of Sanctuary by Bryant Moya. A 10-year-old boy who has lived as a refugee with his mother, Peruvian migrant Ingrid Escalada, since 2017 at Sanctuary at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Boulder, Colorado. 2019, Boulder, Colorado.

Nelson Pinos sheltering his son Brandon in the room where he sleeps. Nelson took sanctuary in 2017 at the church at First and Summerfield United Methodist Church, New Haven, Connecticut. In 2021 he Granted Stay Of Deportation and Leaves Church Sanctuary. 2018, New Haven, Connecticut

David's Mickey Mouse toy lies on the floor of the room where 6-year-old David slept with his mother Amanada and his two sisters, Daniela and Dulce in sanctuary as refugees at Holyrood Episcopal Church in Washington Heights, Manhattan. David loves Mickey Mouse,” says Amanda. “It’s his favorite character.” 2017, Manhattan, NYC.

Portrait of David Carvajal on top of a table adorned with images of Mickey Mouse celebrating his birthday. On January 10, David turned 3 years old, his mother, Amanda, organized a small party at Holyrood Church, along with some other children of the congregation. There were piñatas, sweets and cake. ``Today, I wanted to be happy for David's birthday, it's been very difficult months for me and my children. Sometimes I feel I can not breathe, I no longer have the strength to keep fighting, I do not wish anyone this.`` says Amanda. January 10, 2018.

Portrait of Victor Daniel in the church of the Fourth Universalist Society, in Manhattan, where he lived with his mother Aura Hernandez as refugees to avoid being deported to his native Guatemala. Manhattan, 2018

Drawing about the meaning of Sanctuary made by Zury Baez, 7 years old. Zuri is the daughter of activist and migrant Jeanette Vizguerra, the first woman to enter a sanctuary during the Trump administration at the national level. 2019, Denver Colorado.