News Summary
Hundreds of Catholic leaders and supporters marched from Most Holy Trinity Church to the ICE office in Detroit, advocating for immigrant rights. Organized by Strangers No Longer, the event highlighted concerns over ICE enforcement tactics, including family separations and arrests without felony records. Despite being denied entry to submit a letter to ICE, the clergy and community members expressed solidarity and compassion for affected immigrant families. The event also signaled a unified stance from various faith traditions against current immigration policies.
Detroit – On July 14, several hundred Catholic leaders and supporters participated in a march from Most Holy Trinity Church in Corktown to the ICE office in Detroit. The event was organized by Strangers No Longer, a Michigan-based Catholic group advocating for immigrant communities. The march featured priests, monks, nuns, and parishioners from more than 25 parishes in the Detroit area, reinforcing the community’s commitment to immigrant rights.
Detroit Archbishop Edward Weisenburger joined the procession, which included symbolic elements such as a cross bearer and a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The primary aim was to deliver a letter to ICE’s Detroit Field Office Director, Kevin Raycraft, expressing concerns over aggressive ICE enforcement tactics. These tactics included the use of facial masks during enforcement actions, the arrest of individuals without felony records, and the troubling separation of families during immigration raids.
Upon reaching the ICE office, the clergy attempted to hand deliver the letter. However, a uniformed ICE officer denied them entry and rejected the submission. This rejection sparked a protester in the crowd to shout “Shame!” as an expression of discontent with the situation. In response to the denial, the crowd began singing a song by Jewish artist Batya Levine, offering a moment of hope and prayer.
Throughout the event, senior clergy members reinforced messages of compassion towards immigrants and underscored the importance of respecting their human dignity. One leader emphasized caring for immigrant families who have been unjustly affected by immigration enforcement. The event attracted not just Catholic leaders but also participants from other faith traditions, including Protestant and Jewish leaders, signaling a unified front against the challenges facing immigrant communities.
Sister Nina Rodriguez participated by reading aloud the names of individuals deported in the current year, prompting a collective response from the crowd committed to holding those individuals in their hearts. The march represented a significant moment of solidarity, compounding the community’s collective frustration with current immigration enforcement measures associated with the Trump administration.
In light of being turned away at the ICE office, the group proposed to forward the letter to local congressional representatives. Representative Shri Thanedar, whose district encompasses the ICE office, expressed support for facilitating dialogue between ICE and the community. This suggests potential collaboration efforts aimed at addressing the concerns raised by local faith leaders and immigrant advocates.
The event concluded with announcements of ongoing activism, including a series of weekly prayer vigils starting August 6, designed to support immigrants appearing in court. Organizers aim to raise public awareness and foster compassion surrounding immigration policies, aligning their efforts with Catholic social teachings that emphasize human dignity and the common good.
This march and its subsequent actions can be viewed as part of a broader movement advocating for immigrant rights and advocating for dignified treatment of individuals within the immigration system, reflecting deep-seated frustrations among community leaders regarding current enforcement policies.
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Additional Resources
- Detroit Free Press: Catholics march to Detroit ICE headquarters in protest for immigrants
- Detroit Catholic: Catholic clergy and lay faithful lead procession to Detroit ICE field office
- Detroit News: Catholic march to ICE office in Detroit turned away
- Michigan Advance: Dozens protest outside Detroit ICE field office
- CBS News: ICE raid in Southwest Detroit prompts protests
- Wikipedia: Immigration in the United States
- Google Search: Immigration policy USA
- Google Scholar: Immigration reform
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration
- Google News: Immigrant rights
Author: STAFF HERE DETROITMI WRITER
DETROIT STAFF WRITER The DETROIT STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDetroitMI.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Detroit, Wayne County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Movement Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Grand Prix, and America's Thanksgiving Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Detroit Regional Chamber and Focus HOPE, plus leading businesses in automotive and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Henry Ford Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
