Memories of his own escape flooded back as the Rev. Nils Hernandez heard that Senate File 2340 — a bill aimed at making illegal immigration a state crime — was signed into law.
Sitting in a pew at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Waterloo where he is pastor, Hernandez rehashed his journey into exile more than 30 years ago — a move that forced him to leave behind his life and family in Nicaragua with no return date guaranteed. In March 1987, Hernandez was 19 years old and a seminary student in Matagalpa when he led his classmates in a strike against the Nicaraguan government and soon faced threats for his participation.