CRC Pastor Visits Detention Centers
The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has historically been made up of immigrant groups. That character continues today with approximately one-quarter of CRCNA congregations primarily composed of ethnic groups who identify as recent immigrants. Many of these churches have been reporting significant challenges in the past year as a result of changes to U.S. immigration policy and enforcement.
The CRCNA released a statement and call to prayer to all of its members on January 30, 2026, and the denomination wants to share some of the stories from immigrant churches to help paint a picture of what is happening to them as immigrants. These churches and their leaders have also been asked to share how others in the CRCNA can support them. The following first response in this series is based on an interview with Pastor Christian Sebastia.
Christian Sebastia
Pastor Christian Sebastia moved to Katy, Tex., in 2015, as a result of the political, social, and economic collapse of his home country, Venezuela. In Katy, he pastors Carismah Church, which is the spiritual home to many recent immigrants from Venezuela as well as other Latin American countries. (See this video about Carismah church that was produced for last year’s Gather events).
As part of his pastoral work, Sebastia regularly visits detention centers in Montgomery, Tex., and along the James River to meet with detainees and offer spiritual support and encouragement.
“One major source of trauma for people,” said Sebastia, “is the shock experienced by those who believed they were legally present in the U.S. because the country itself had issued them identification documents.”
He explained that many Venezuelan migrants received temporary protective status and social security numbers when they arrived.
“Many Venezuelans have lived in the U.S. for 20 to 25 years, have U.S.-born children, and are now serving as pastors in the U.S,” he said. “A large percentage of Venezuelans benefited from legal documentation because the U.S. recognized Venezuela’s political crisis, which has displaced more than 8 million people, one of the largest migrations in the world.”
He added that, unlike that of Syria or Ukraine, Venezuela’s migration was not caused by war but by political segregation and persecution based on ideology rather than on religion or race. Political division, he said, became as destructive as war, forcing millions to leave the country.
Sebastia explained that most Venezuelans entered the U.S. on tourist visas and later received work permits and protected status. He emphasized that only a very small percentage of Venezuelans in the U.S. are connected to criminal organizations.
All of this, he said, leaves many Venezuelans in a confusing place today.
“They were welcomed, granted legal status, issued work permits, and allowed to contribute to Social Security, yet are now being arrested despite having committed no crime and holding valid permits that extend through future dates,” he explained.
When he visits detention centers, Sebastia has encountered Venezuelans who have not committed infractions and who have had immigration appointments scheduled years ahead. Some have even been detained while actively complying with their immigration process.
He noted that these individuals have been doing everything correctly: working, caring for their families, and living peacefully under valid legal status. Once detained, they are subjected to psychological pressure to sign voluntary deportation documents.
He added that deportation often cannot proceed unless detainees sign these documents. Some are offered money to leave the country if they agree to sign. His pastoral counsel to those who have a valid status and no criminal record is not to sign.
He identified unjust detention as the first form of psychological pressure.
“Individuals are held despite having legal permission to be in the country. They are not released, even when release would be appropriate, and they are not deported because no crime has been committed,” he said.
Sebastia encouraged all CRC members to pray for an end to these injustices. He also emphasized a critical role that pastors can play in providing pastoral care in detention centers.
“Pastors have the right to enter prisons and immigration detention facilities as part of interfaith and chaplaincy services,” he explained.
Access is typically requested by contacting the detention center directly and asking for the director of interfaith affairs, the chaplain, or the religious services coordinator. Pastors must present official ministerial credentials and, in some cases, complete a specific application form. Facilities may also require a background check before granting clearance.
Once approved, pastors are permitted to enter the facility for pastoral visitation, prayer, and spiritual care. Sebastia noted that this access is distinct from family visitation and legal visits.
“Detainees are usually limited to one family visit per week. However, when a pastor visits through the facility’s interfaith or religious services program, that visit does not count against the detainee’s allotted family visitation,” he explained. This allows pastors to provide spiritual care without reducing detainees’ opportunities to see loved ones.
Sebastia encouraged CRC pastors to ask within their congregations whether any members or family members are currently detained and to actively seek opportunities to visit detention centers and prisons. He noted that many pastors are unaware that this type of access exists, and that they therefore miss opportunities to offer direct pastoral care. He stressed that pastoral presence requires intentional movement toward people who are suffering.
“Visiting detainees is fundamentally different from public protest or advocacy alone. While public action may have its place, pastoral visitation offers direct comfort, prayer, and solidarity with individuals experiencing fear, isolation, and uncertainty,” he said.
Sebastia also noted that being present with immigrants who are imprisoned, listening to their stories, praying with them, and reminding them they are not forgotten is a tangible expression of pastoral calling.
In addition, Sebastia warned CRC members against adopting political narratives claiming alignment with God’s redemption. Drawing from Venezuela’s experience, he cautioned against political polarization that divides both society and the church. He urged the church to pursue Christ’s call to justice, truth, love, and unity, resisting the temptation to place hope in political systems.
“We cannot fall into redemptive narratives promoted by political parties or powers,” he said. “Our fulfillment and true freedom are found solely in the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. To embrace any redemptive narrative outside of Christ is idolatry.”
