NEW: Ignoring Pope Leo’s Warning, Trump-Vance White House Bans Prayer Vigils at ICE Facility
Trump-Vance officials told Church leaders “no more prayer” outside a Chicago-area detention center — just days after Pope Leo warned the White House was trampling religious liberty.
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For nearly two decades, local Catholics have gathered weekly to pray outside the Broadview immigration processing center.
But this Friday, that longstanding vigil was abruptly halted by a new edict from federal authorities: there will be “no more prayer” in front of or inside the Broadview ICE facility.
The move stunned faith leaders on the scene — one calling it “a violation of the First Amendment” — and immediately raised legal questions about the government banning peaceful religious gatherings.
Friday’s clampdown came after clergy were again denied entry to the detention center that morning — the third time in recent weeks that Catholic ministers have been turned away from the facility.
This standoff has escalated quickly.
On November 1 (All Saints’ Day), a delegation of priests and nuns — including a Chicago-area bishop — attempted to bring the Eucharist to migrants inside, only to be blocked by ICE officials.
It was the second such refusal, after an initial effort on Oct. 11 was similarly rebuffed.
“Those men and women inside there deserve pastoral care, deserve to be nourished by Communion,” protested Sister JoAnn Persch, who has led the Broadview vigils for years.
To suddenly forbid even praying outside, she warned, tramples on fundamental religious freedom.
Pope Leo Denounces the Crackdown
Earlier this week, Pope Leo XIV — the first American pontiff — publicly weighed in on the Broadview dispute.
Here’s what happened.
