CHICAGO — Tensions escalated outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, as more than 210 clergy members from diverse Christian traditions joined a growing movement to oppose federal immigration enforcement. The protests, which have increasingly drawn attention for both their scale and intensity, were marked by arrests and clashes between law enforcement and faith leaders committed to defending immigrants’ rights.
Among those detained was the Rev. Hannah Kardon, a United Methodist minister from the Chicago area. Video footage captured the moment Illinois State Police advanced on demonstrators, pushing and shoving with batons as Kardon maintained her hands raised in prayer. During the confrontation, she was struck on her leg with repeated baton jabs and ultimately pulled to the ground, her arms restrained behind her back. Despite the forceful arrest, Kardon continued praying, expressing concern for the officers and asking for guidance so they might recognize the moral implications of their actions. She later revealed visible bruising on her leg but emphasized her commitment to advocate for the detained immigrants.
Kardon is one of more than 210 signatories of a letter titled “Jesus is Being Tear Gassed at Broadview,” criticizing ICE’s treatment of immigrants in the Chicago area. The letter, which spans liberal and conservative Christian traditions, denounces the “hunting and terrorizing of immigrant communities” and highlights repeated denials of Communion for detainees. It also referenced a viral incident in which Presbyterian minister Rev. David Black was pepper-sprayed while praying outside the same facility.
Drawing inspiration from the civil rights legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the clergy argue that their religious convictions compel them to act, even in the face of arrest and physical danger. “We accept that following Christ’s example may mean we are mocked and assaulted, opposed and even arrested,” the letter states. It emphasizes that spiritual duty often requires standing against systemic injustice, regardless of the personal risk involved.
The coalition of faith leaders is remarkably diverse, including pastors, seminary deans, and theology professors from Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Mennonite, Episcopal, Unitarian Universalist, and Baptist traditions, among others. These religious figures bring both moral authority and institutional backing to the protests, which have grown from a small group of demonstrators to a broad, organized effort attracting clergy across denominations.
The protests themselves combine prayer, symbolic gestures, and nonviolent direct action. Demonstrators have faced pepper spray, rubber bullets, and other aggressive tactics from ICE and local law enforcement. In response to concerns over safety and compliance with legal protections, a federal judge recently issued a temporary restraining order restricting certain violent measures against clergy, journalists, and peaceful protesters, though enforcement of this order remains under scrutiny.
In addition to defending the immediate rights of detained immigrants, clergy like Kardon and Rev. Lucas Hergert argue that their actions address a larger moral crisis. ICE operations in Chicago, including raids on residential areas and aggressive enforcement tactics, have galvanized faith leaders to advocate for systemic reform. Hergert, a Unitarian Universalist minister, noted that the high-profile incidents of arrests and confrontations have inspired wider participation from mainline Protestant, evangelical, Catholic, and even Mormon clergy.
Religious leaders are also integrating practical support for detainees into their activism. Efforts include offering Communion and prayer for those held in detention, as well as organizing vigils and community awareness campaigns. Rev. Abby Holcombe, a United Methodist minister, spearheaded such initiatives and observed that participation has grown dramatically, reflecting increasing awareness and commitment among local congregations.
Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Catholic archbishop of Chicago, has voiced solidarity with migrants, emphasizing that “parishes and schools will not turn away those who seek comfort” and insisting on the essential dignity of every human being. Other faith leaders, while not directly signing the protest letter, have echoed this call for compassion and systemic reform, signaling a growing coalition of religious voices challenging federal immigration policies in urban areas.
Despite personal risk and physical harm, Kardon and other clergy stress that the focus remains on the detainees rather than themselves. “If they’re willing to do it to me in the sunlight,” she said, “what are they doing to detainees in the dark?” This sentiment underscores the moral urgency driving the protests: a commitment to confront injustice through faith-based action, even in the face of arrest, assault, and intimidation.
The Broadview protests highlight the expanding role of religious leaders in social advocacy, merging spiritual conviction with civic engagement. By leveraging moral authority, collective action, and public visibility, Chicago clergy are shaping a new front in the dialogue over immigration enforcement, emphasizing that faith-driven activism can be both a spiritual and societal force for change.
