When ICE Comes to Church: Faithful Resistance and Legal Protections

Troy Collazo, Policy Advisor, Episcopal Public Policy Network

Mr. Collazo is responsible for advocating for The Episcopal Church’s positions regarding immigration and refugee policy. Prior to his current role, he served the Church through the Episcopal Service Corp in New York City and served on the first cohort of the Eco-Justice Fellowship, an Episcopal program focused on Creation Care. He holds a B.A. in Law & National Security from Regent University and a master’s in public policy from Pepperdine University.

Rev. Paul Fleck, Executive Director, Immigration Law & Justice - New York

Rev. Paul Fleck presently serves as Executive Director of New York Justice for Our Neighbors, an immigration legal ministry of the Methodist Church. Immediately prior to that he was Pastor of Hamden Plains UMC in Connecticut, and was one of the lead organizers of New Sanctuary CT, which organized 11 faith communities to successfully provide sanctuary to 8 individuals in that state facing deportation. He is most proud of his son Daniel, a high school freshman soccer player who is embarrassed when his Dad features him in bios.

Anika Forrest, Legislative Director, Domestic Policy, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)

Anika Forrest leads FCNL’s domestic policy team, guiding its legislative and policy strategy while directing the migration policy program. Previously, she served as FCNL’s legislative manager for migration policy. Before joining FCNL, Anika was a legislative aide for former Philadelphia Councilmember Helen Gym, working on immigrant detention, deportation, racial economic disparities, and housing insecurity. Her foreign policy experience includes roles with USAID, the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Juridical Committee, and the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C. An adjunct professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law, she holds a J.D. from Temple Law and a B.A. in Sociology from Davidson College, with her writing appearing in The Hill, Just Security, The AFRO, and Religion Unplugged. Anika’s experiences with Quakerism as a Westtown School alumna and former admission counselor at Haverford College deeply informs her commitment to dignity, justice, and protection for vulnerable communities. As the daughter of immigrants, she is unapologetically dedicated to advancing community-engaged movements for an equitable, humane, and inclusive future. She is also a governance member of the Haverford College Corporation.

Destinee Bates, Program Associate, Episocpal Divinity School

Moderator

Destinee holds a B.A. in Applied Cultural Thought from the esteemed North Carolina A&T State University, where she honed a profound understanding of societal evolution and the socio-political forces shaping global transformation. Her studies equipped her with essential skills in critical analysis, policy evaluation, and legal frameworks, all grounded in a commitment to equity and inclusion. She is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary, further expanding her interdisciplinary approach to social justice and advocacy.

As an emerging faith leader and advocate for justice, Destinee brings a wealth of expertise in public policy, grassroots organizing, and coalition-building. With a proven ability to mobilize diverse communities, lead impactful research initiatives, and foster interfaith collaboration, she is dedicated to empowering underserved populations. Destinee leverages her strengths in project management, strategic communication, and community engagement to advance justice and equity at the intersection of faith and public life.

Brennan Brink, Associate Director for Migrant Outreach, Interfaith Center of New York

Moderator

Brennan Brink is the Associate Director for Migrant Outreach at the Interfaith Center of New York. Brennan is a recent graduate of Union Theological Seminary, committed to helping nonprofit organizations put community values into action. In his work at ICNY, Brennan supports diverse houses of worship as they respond to the current asylum seeker crisis. As a leader of ICNY's “Equipping Diverse Houses of Worship to Provide Shelter and Respite” coalition, Brennan convenes faith leaders, provides technical support to congregations, and builds advocacy opportunities. Brennan’s passion for community activism grew in his home state of South Dakota, where he worked to support public education and served as an education intern for a state legislator from the Pine Ridge Reservation. In addition to his MDiv from Union, Brennan received a degree in Religion with Distinction from St. Olaf College.