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Families impacted by ICE raid at Fresh Mark meat packing plant turn to church for help

Posted at 7:55 PM, Jun 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-20 20:20:25-04

The Fresh Mark meat packing plant where 146 undocumented immigrants were arrested Tuesday seemed to be operating business as usual on Wednesday.  

Saint Paul's church down the street was not. 

There were dozens of people seeking refuge and getting help with their next steps on Wednesday. 

RELATED: Groups raising funds, providing support for families affected by ICE raids

"The people who are here, for the most part, are families of someone who is detained," Sister Rene Weeks, the director of the Hispanic Ministry at St. Paul's, said. "The reason they're here right at this moment is that we have immigration attorneys here."

Attorneys from Catholic Charities and Central San Jose in Canton spent the day at the church to help all of the people affected.

"They are helping people, both those who already have cases for asylum in process and those who just need to find out what the possibilities are," Sister Weeks said.

News 5 talked to several families off camera. Most did not speak English, but they said they were too afraid to go on camera. 

"It happened yesterday at Fresh Mart, but that doesn't mean it's over. They can still come back," church parishioner Jim Lang said. "Now these people are going to be in total fear for the next three to six months."