Yuma United Methodist churches hold immigrant‑solidarity prayer vigil at Friendship Park

Congregations from Yuma-area United Methodist churches and community members gathered at Friendship Park for an immigrant-solidarity prayer vigil that organizers described as "not a political event or protest but a time for prayer and mourning," KYMA reported about the evening of Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Organizers said the vigil aimed to lift voices for immigrant communities affected by immigration policies and recent ICE raids and deaths.

Event organizer and speaker Roxanne Barley told the crowd, "It's important for all of us to have our voices be heard- to all of us to have an understanding of what's taking place because it is affecting us all in different ways, in different aspects," according to KYMA. Barley framed the vigil as a space for collective awareness rather than a direct policy protest.

Gila Mountain United Methodist Church pastor Edgar Vergara Millán addressed the group with a sustained spiritual framing of the moment, saying, "Immigrant communities are experiencing times of turmoil. I describe it as a storm that is raging and people are suffering, and so it's important for us to create spaces for people to come together to acknowledge our common humanity- our common sacred worth. Our common humanity moves us to compassion, to caring for one another." Pastor Millán added that the vigil included prayer toward concrete support: "So we're praying that as we emphasize our common humanity and sacred worth, we can support each other and pray and work together so that change occurs."

Local organizers also highlighted a financial response tied to the denomination. The Desert Southwest Conference announced a solidarity fund and Lenten match to support families impacted by immigration policies, and its website text quoted in KYMA states, "A generous matching gift from the Board of Global Ministries commits that the first $5000 will be matched directly. We hope to raise this during this matching amount during the Lenten Season as our community unites over a season of Prayer, Repentance, Fasting." Pastor Millán urged pooled resources to help "families that are struggling to make ends meet because of these reasons."

The local vigil in Yuma took place as United Methodists organized larger, explicit advocacy actions elsewhere. ResourceUMC promoted "Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice" in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, with worship at 10:00 AM ET followed by a prayerful march and afternoon congressional visits. NCCUMC provided a detailed schedule, noting worship at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, 421 Seward Square SE, an 11:00 AM ET procession past the Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol to Upper Senate Park, and reporting that 1,200 participants had registered to attend in-person.

KYMA-TV's Facebook post about the Yuma vigil recorded 140 reactions, 117 comments and 12 shares, showing mixed community response. Commenters ranged from Elena Mejia's "Prayers for ALL the victims" to critics such as Rhon Raymer's "I respect immigrants that come to the United States for a better life only when they do it legally. Not illegally and then Americans have to pay for them" and Danny Bryant's "So let me get this right. We have local churches that are standing in solidarity against law enforcement? Let that sink in! Exactly who attends these churches?"

Organizers said the vigil intended to bring hope and lift voices locally while plugging into denominational resources and national actions. With the Desert Southwest Conference seeking to raise and match the initial $5,000 during the Lenten season, church leaders in Yuma signaled a mix of spiritual consolation and practical support for immigrant families as the next steps.