church leaders throughout the Twin Cities took a stand in support of undocumented immigrants seeking refuge.It's part of a nationwide trend in response to President-elect Donald Trump's hard-line immigration stance. More than 150 clergy men and women from across Minnesota attended an ISAIAH sanctuary congregation network meeting, held at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in St. Paul.Members met to declare their places of worship as sanctuaries.Trump has said several times that he would deport undocumented immigrants. The role of a sanctuary church, therefore, would be to create a sacred space of refuge for immigrant individuals and their families who are in immediate danger of deportation.The sanctuary churches would have individuals residing in their place of worship for an undetermined amount of time, while the community of Sanctuary works on the stay of removal orders for each person residing in the space or until those individuals can safely arrive to another place of sanctuary.Pastor James Erlandson of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer says churches have been a place of refuge for those in need for quite some time now."This is to be a community of love hospitality and fellowship for those living in our care," Erlandson said. "The only parameters set to declare your place of worship as sanctuaries is to make it very public. All other guidelines are at the discretion of individual churches and their congregants."Each sanctuary church must provide a private space for a person or people to live in 24/7, washing facilities, kitchen or food preparation facilities and accessibility for family visitations.JaNaè Bates, United Church of Christ Minster communications director for ISAIAH, says the community is also supporting the trend of sanctuary churches."Undocumented immigrants should not live in fear," she said. "These people are our friends, neighbors, coworkers and family."There are currently 20 additional churches in various stages of deciding to be either sanctuary or sanctuary supporting.Church leaders are not alone in their stance.Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as a number of other Minnesota communities, are now known as "sanctuary cities," meaning the city would prevent local police from enforcing federal immigration laws. Just recently, city of Northfield officials announced they are considering becoming a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants. They'll vote later this month.However, Trump has said if authorities in sanctuary cities do not help with the deportation of illegal immigrants, he will cut federal law enforcement aid.This could mean city police departments would lose a significant amount of money.Rep. John Culberson from Texas has chimed in, proposing a policy with the Department of Justice to make sure cities comply. The policy would force sanctuary cities nationwide to owe a refund of every dollar from federal grant programs over the last 10 years.

Scenic view of Sugarloaf Mountain

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Jesus Christ Kneels on the Ground and Prays with Palms Out Outdoors at Sunset

Gorgeous aerials of the Christ the Redeemer statue erected on the peak of Corcodovo mountain in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The impressive monument stands 130 feet tall and weighs 700 tons.

A2 / France 2

BEAUTY SCENICS OF RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL AHEAD OF THE 2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS / BEACH SCENES / EWS "CHRIST THE REDEEMER" STATUE FROM TEH BEACH

Statue of 'Christ the Redeemer' on top of Corcovado Mountain across water as seen from ground. Traffic on road. Top view of statue on mountain top. Aerial view of Rio de Janeiro and statue in the foreground. Location: Rio de Janeiro Brazil. Date: January 4, 1932.

Christ the Redeemer turns green for Rio finale

Panning shot of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at dusk. The view moves from the statue of Christ the Redeemer across the city to the Copacabana beach.

Rio de Janeiro 1982 Christ the Redeemer Statue, wide, in far distance, misty gray

U.S. General Curtis LeMay in the United States. U.S. Air Force KC-135 aircraft in flight during its nonstop flight to South America piloted by General LeMay. Aerial views of the harbor in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A statue of Christ the Redeemer at Rio de Janeiro. The KC-135 aircraft lands at the Andrews Air Force base and General LeMay debarks from the aircraft and speaks to the press after a successful nonstop flight from Honolulu, Hawaii in April 1958. Location: United States USA. Date: 1958.

Aerial Shot of the Camera Circling Jesus Christ Kneeling and Praying with Arms Out on a Desert Hillside with a Tent and Mountains Behind Him at Sunrise/Sunset

IN BRAINARD WORSHIPPERS SPEND THIS EASTER SUNDAY, TRYING TO GET GUNS OFF THEIR STREETS. AT THIS CHRIST UNIVERSAL CHURCH SERVICE, MEMBERS LAUNCHED THEIR "PEACE ON EASTER, PEACE ON THE STREETS" CAMPAIGN. THEY WANT ANYONE, ESPECIALLY GANG MEMBERS TO TURN IN THEIR GUNS IN EXCHANGE FOR GIFT CERTIFICATED, REDEEMABLE AT ANY FOOTLOCKER STORE. SO FAR, EIGHTY GUNS HAVE BEEN TURNED IN, INCLUDING HANDGUNS, SAWED-OFF SHOTGUNS, MAHCINE GUNS AND ONE THOUSAND ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION. THE CHURCH ALSO HELD A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TO REMEMBER CHILDREN LOST TO GANG VIOLENCE.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer used in anti hunger campaign

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EXT BROLL FROM COPACABANA BEACH IN RIO / includes: -b-roll of Olympic ticket line near beach volleyball stadium -High-shot of beach volleyball stadium -b-roll of souvenir market -beauty shot of Christ the Redeemer

FR3 / France 3

Rio de Janeiro 1982, Christ the Redeemer Statue, medium close up, tilt up

Salvation Army General Evangeline Booth delivers her farewell address to America at Madison Square Garden in 1934

Circa 1964 Pan the hotel-lined tourist beach, Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro; LS view of Rio; an American sailor takes a picture of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain.

NAME: BRA STATUE2 20061012I TAPE: EF06/0950 IN_TIME: 10:38:58:04 DURATION: 00:02:02:23 SOURCES: AP Television DATELINE: Rio Janeiro- 12 Oct 2006 RESTRICTIONS: SHOTLIST: 1. Wide of Christ the Redeemer 2. People in front of Christ the Redeemer 3. Various of Christ the Redeemer 4. Various of French musical trio "Trio Chausson" playing at anniversary ceremony 5. Violinist playing 6. Cellist Antoine Landowski, great-grandson of french sculptor Paul Landowski who designed head and hands of statue 7. Christ the Redeemer statue, tilt to chapel 8. Wide of interior of chapel 9. Close-up cross 10. Wide of Cardinal Eusebio Scheid, the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro and church officials walking 11. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Eusebio Scheid, Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro: "The fact is that it isn't only a tourist site, we also want it to be a place for religious pilgrimages. What better way to do this than to celebrate special occasions, such as weddings or baptisms, which we are considering right now in the chapel." 12. People walking in front of Christ the Redeemer 13. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Carlos Garcia, Chilean tourist: "It would be very original and nice to be able to get married here by this monument. It would be fabulous." 14. Various of mass taking place 15. Christ the Redeemer statue STORYLINE: The statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro's most famous icon, is celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary on Thursday with a large celebration and the official consecration of the small chapel that sits on the bottom of the 125-foot (38.1 metre) statue. Although there are several theories regarding the statue's conception, many believe the monument's final design was authored by the artist Carlos Oswald and the French Sculptor Paul Landowski and designed by architect and engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. The idea to build the Christ was conceived by the Catholic Church in 1922 in order to erect a symbol to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Brazil's independence. The Christ was first commissioned in 1931 by Cardinal Sebastiao Leme who wanted to be able to see the image of Jesus Christ from every part of the city. Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro Eusebio Scheid said it is important the statue is more than just a tourist attraction. The statue is covered in soapstone and is considered to be the largest art deco sculpture in the world. It sits on top of Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio's smaller mountains and famous beaches. With the consecration of the chapel, tourist and Brazilians alike will have the opportunity to wed or become baptised at the foot of the Christ. "It would be very original and nice to be able to get married here by this monument. It would be fabulous," Carlos Garcia, a Chilean tourist. The monument was listed as one of Brazil's historic heritages in 1973.

Land, Brazil, Rio de Janerio, brazil, brazilian, catholic, christ, christ the redeemer statue, christianity, city, cloud, corcovado, cristo, grey, janeiro, jesus, landmark, lapse, latin america, monument, monumental, mountain, national landmark, olympics, park, people, portuguese, redendor, redentor, religion, religious, rio, rio de janeiro, sculpture, sight-seeing, site, south america, statue, stone, sugarloaf, symbol, time, time lapse, time-lapse, timelapse, tour, tourism, tourists, brasil

Christ the Redeemer Statue, medium shot, tilt up, shot on Eastman Kodak film