Saturday marked the second time clergy have been turned away. The first refusal, according to CSPL, came on Oct. 11 during a separate attempt to provide sacramental services to detainees.
Restricted area and visible patrols
Witnesses said security restrictions around the facility were noticeably tighter than on previous visits. Sister JoAnn Persch, president of Catherine’s Caring Cause and a longtime advocate for immigrants, stated that for nearly 20 years she and the late Sister Pat Murphy were able to approach the building’s entrance to pray. On Saturday, clergy and congregants were stopped well short of the main doors, she said.
Persch also reported seeing ICE vehicles repeatedly drive past the outdoor gathering. Okińczyc-Cruz estimated that federal agents circled the area “close to a dozen times” during the Mass. Some participants interpreted the patrols as an intimidation tactic, although ICE did not comment on the activity.
Illinois State Police officers were present at the scene. Persch said troopers contacted a supervisor inside the Broadview facility, who cited “safety reasons” for denying entry to ministers. “After a decade of visiting that building, I have never encountered a serious threat to my safety,” Persch said in a statement to organizers after the event.
Concerns over religious freedom
Advocates contend that blocking clergy violates the religious rights of detainees, who come from various faith traditions and may request spiritual care. The National Detention Standards issued by DHS note that facilities should accommodate reasonable requests for religious services “consistent with safety, security, and orderly facility operations.” CSPL leaders argue that distributing Communion falls squarely within those guidelines.
“The people inside deserve pastoral care,” Persch said, adding that Eucharistic ministers are trained to conduct services quickly and without disruption.
Okińczyc-Cruz linked Saturday’s decision to what he described as the climate of fear created by “Operation Midway Blitz,” an ongoing immigration enforcement campaign in the Chicago area. He said CSPL works with many families anxious about potential detentions and deportations. Denial of access to clergy, he argued, reinforces that fear.
Imagem: Internet
Public response
Among those attending the Mass was Dan Greenstone, a Chicago resident who is not Catholic but said he felt compelled to show support. He described a stark contrast between the colorful Day of the Dead imagery—flowers, traditional costumes, and music—and the facility’s razor-wire fencing and security vehicles. Greenstone called current enforcement measures “cruel” and said the sight of clergy being stopped at the gate underscored his concern about detainees’ treatment.
During the service, participants recited prayers in English and Spanish, placed marigolds on an altar honoring deceased loved ones, and processed toward the detention center until law enforcement instructed them to remain behind barricades.
Next steps from organizers
CSPL representatives said they will file another formal request to meet with ICE officials and secure permission for clergy to enter the Broadview site. Okińczyc-Cruz compared the group’s strategy to the biblical parable of the persistent widow, emphasizing that advocates intend to continue petitioning “non-violently but persistently” until access is granted.
DHS did not respond to multiple inquiries regarding the incident or the status of future visitation requests. ICE has not issued a public statement about Saturday’s events.
Broadview’s municipal government, which does not control operations at the federal facility, has publicly supported CSPL’s efforts. Mayor Thompson’s Oct. 22 letter to DHS described Communion visits as “a basic exercise of religious freedom” and asked federal officials to accommodate ministers during recognized holy days.
For now, advocates plan to return to the detention center with weekly vigils and to renew conversations with policymakers at the local, state and federal levels. Persch said the goal remains unchanged: ensuring that immigrants in custody have the same opportunity for spiritual support that was available for years. “We will keep coming back,” she told supporters after Saturday’s Mass.
Crédito da imagem: Anadolu via Getty Images
