Chicago's faith leaders on front lines of resistance against ICE crackdown

"Faith leaders bring a very powerful prophetic and moral compass into the space, said the Rev Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, executive director of Live Free Illinois, a group that mobilizes Black churches around social justice issues in Chicago. While many others may be able to argue the economic impact, or argue the law, faith leaders are typically the ones who are arguing and standing on the side of humanity and for people."

"One of clergy's most visible actions has been holding regular Friday gatherings, where dozens of people from various faith communities rally outside the Broadview processing facility, where ICE holds people slated for deportation. Rev David Black of the First Presbyterian church of Chicago says that sometimes faith leaders show up and pray for those detained. Other times, they use non-violent tactics to attempt to block vans from leaving the facility to go out and detain immigrants or from bringing them back to the processing facility."

For weeks Chicago has faced a large-scale immigration crackdown by ICE and DHS that has resulted in the arrest of 800 people as of 1 October and widespread fear. Agents have used violent tactics including body-slamming, pepper balls, and deploying teargas in residential areas. Faith leaders have organized interfaith resistance, holding regular Friday gatherings outside the Broadview processing facility to pray, rally, and physically attempt to block vans. Clergy have sought access to deliver spiritual care and communion but have been denied by DHS. Some faith leaders have been shot with pepper balls or arrested. Church leaders have sued the administration for violating first amendment rights.

Read at www.theguardian.com