A delegation of Catholic priests, nuns, and lay leaders from Chicago and its suburbs recently staged a march from Maywood to Broadview, seeking to deliver Holy Communion to detainees at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility.
The group, which included around 1,000 members from local parishes and the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, approached the facility but was met with refusals from Illinois State Police officers who were stationed outside.
As the delegation reached the facility around 11 a.m., they prayed and sang in protest.
Illinois State Police Lt. Col. Jason Bradley reported that he contacted ICE with the religious leaders’ request but was informed that the request had been denied, without any explanation provided.
ICE has not responded to inquiries regarding the rationale for the denial of communion access.
The disappointment among the clergy and participants was palpable when the decision was communicated to the group, prompting shouts of “Shame! Shame!” in response.
Following the denial, the marchers held a communion service among themselves in the parking lot before dispersing to either walk home or board yellow school buses organized by the event’s leaders.
The Rev. Larry Dowling, one of the priests involved, expressed his dismay, stating, “We’re just very disappointed because we simply wanted to bring the love of God and the presence of the Eucharist to these prisoners, which we had been allowed to do before all this stuff happened.”
He emphasized that the rejection of their communion service felt like a rejection of the presence of Christ and God’s love.
Sarah Rand, a spokesperson for the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, referenced the 2008 Access to Religious Ministry Act, which entitles religious workers to “reasonable access” to jails and immigration detention facilities for spiritual support.
Rand highlighted that ICE has been consistently preventing ministers from entering the facility for several weeks, and uncertainty remains about the success of prior attempts by other groups to visit detainees.
Chuck Fitzsimmons, who led the procession’s singing, remarked on the importance of music in uplifting spirits and unifying the group: “In one sense [the music] keeps up your spirits, but also it focuses us on the message that we are here as one, brothers and sisters all.”
Fitzsimmons expressed his sadness over the inability to share communion with detainees but acknowledged the challenges of the times, indicating the marchers were prepared for the rejection.
On the day of the event, crews were observed erecting barricades at the location in response to a court order issued by U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt.
The judge ordered the removal of a fence that had been placed outside the processing facility, set to take effect by Tuesday, following state police directions.
Despite the ruling, the fence remained up well into the day of the march.
Prior to the arrival of clergy and marching participants, an assembly of protesters had already gathered at Harvard Street and 25th Avenue.
As tensions escalated leading up to a 6 p.m. protest curfew, some demonstrators approached a vehicle filled with federal agents, which led police to declare the gathering an unlawful assembly and clear the area.
Throughout the day, state and sheriff’s officials confirmed a total of 15 arrests, with charges ranging from destruction of government property to aggravated battery against a police officer.
By around 7 p.m., Illinois State Police retreated as protesters cleared the roadway, allowing the Illinois Department of Transportation to make adjustments to barriers in designated free speech zones along 25th Avenue before most demonstrators dispersed.
The ICE facility continues to be a hotbed of demonstrations, characterized by confrontations between protesters and federal authorities, especially following the ramp-up of deportation efforts, dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” initiated by President Donald Trump’s administration last month.
This situation has led to increased clashes between protesters and law enforcement, with demonstrations occurring from early morning until late into the evening.
image source from：chicago
