John Fife
Encyclopedia
John Fife is a human rights
activist and retired Presbyterian minister who lives in Tucson, Arizona
. He was a member of the Sanctuary Movement
and was a co-founder of the immigrant rights group No More Deaths
.
Rev. John Fife served as a minister for 35 years at Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, a church with a strong focus on social justice
issues. In 1992 Fife was elected Moderator of the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
. He is now a pastor
emeritus
at Southside Presbyterian.
In the 1980s John Fife co-founded the Sanctuary Movement in the United States. Volunteers in the movement provided support to Central America
n refugees, many of whom were fleeing U.S.-supported death squads in their home countries of El Salvador
and Guatemala
. The movement organized over 500 churches
to help the refugees cross the border and find sanctuary in the U.S., in defiance of federal law
. In 1986 Fife was convicted, along with seven other people, of violating federal immigration law
s and served five years probation
.
In 2004 a group of religious leaders in Tucson formed a coalition called No More Deaths
to attempt to end the deaths of immigrants along the United States-Mexico border. John Fife was among the leaders of that effort and continues to work closely with No More Deaths.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist and retired Presbyterian minister who lives in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. He was a member of the Sanctuary Movement
Sanctuary movement
The Sanctuary Movement was a religious and political campaign that began in the early 1980s to provide safe-haven for Central American refugees fleeing civil conflict...
and was a co-founder of the immigrant rights group No More Deaths
No More Deaths
No More Deaths is an advocacy group based in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, USA that seeks to end the deaths of migrants crossing the desert regions near the United States-Mexico border...
.
Rev. John Fife served as a minister for 35 years at Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, a church with a strong focus on social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
issues. In 1992 Fife was elected Moderator of the General Assembly
Moderator of the General Assembly
The Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
. He is now a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
at Southside Presbyterian.
In the 1980s John Fife co-founded the Sanctuary Movement in the United States. Volunteers in the movement provided support to Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
n refugees, many of whom were fleeing U.S.-supported death squads in their home countries of El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
and Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. The movement organized over 500 churches
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
to help the refugees cross the border and find sanctuary in the U.S., in defiance of federal law
Federal law
Federal law is the body of law created by the federal government of a country. A federal government is formed when a group of political units, such as states or provinces join together in a federation, surrendering their individual sovereignty and many powers to the central government while...
. In 1986 Fife was convicted, along with seven other people, of violating federal immigration law
Immigration law
Immigration law refers to national government policies which control the phenomenon of immigration to their country.Immigraton law, regarding foreign citizens, is related to nationality law, which governs the legal status of people, in matters such as citizenship...
s and served five years probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
.
In 2004 a group of religious leaders in Tucson formed a coalition called No More Deaths
No More Deaths
No More Deaths is an advocacy group based in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, USA that seeks to end the deaths of migrants crossing the desert regions near the United States-Mexico border...
to attempt to end the deaths of immigrants along the United States-Mexico border. John Fife was among the leaders of that effort and continues to work closely with No More Deaths.