AMHERST — Amherst Town Council is calling on a state agency to permit a downtown church to continue providing sanctuary to an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala until mid-2021.
Councilors Wednesday voted 9-0 to support the First Congregational Church, 165 Main St., in maintaining a temporary shelter for Lucio Perez, the Springfield resident and father of four who has been in sanctuary since October 2017. Perez remains at risk of being deported should he leave sanctuary.
The resolution asks that a variance from the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, issued in March by the Building Code Appeals Board, be extended for another 18 months, if needed. That variance lapses this month.
It also notes that the town’s building commissioner, Fire Department and Health Department “have consistently monitored and been impressed by the church’s management plan and compliance with the conditions required for offering a temporary shelter.”
Without a variance, the church would have to spend significant money to bring its building up to code for a permanent dwelling, such as making the bathroom and shower handicapped-accessible at a cost of $75,000.
Vicki Kemper, the church minister, thanked the council for its continued support. She said the church will be seeking the waivers to allow for the temporary sanctuary to continue, but eventually aims to get Perez back to his family in Springfield.
“We worked very, very hard, especially over the past four to five months, to bring sanctuary to an end, but that has not happened,” Kemper said. “We do not want to release to Mr. Perez to the whims of immigration authorities and possible deportation, nor do we want to make him a permanent resident.”
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
