USA: Catholic groups hold prayer vigil outside ICE headquarters

Image: Pax Christi USA

Source: Pax Christi USA

Several Catholic organisations held a prayer vigil outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in Washington DC on Friday, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Pax Christi USA wrote on social media: "We prayed outside ICE's DC headquarters in frigid weather this morning, calling on the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe on this her feast day, and repeating our plea to ICE agents to respect the innate human dignity of every one of us, including immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Stop the cruelty of the raids! Stop the repression! Release all those unjustly held captive, reunite families, and allow immigrants to live in peace."

Megeen White, associate director of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, said: "Our purpose is focusing on Our Lady of Guadalupe, because she was a witness that God is here for all peoples, and we believe that everyone has dignity and rights, and therefore should be allowed to live peacefully."

Judy Coode, communications director for Pax Christi USA said: "Our faith compels us to be witnesses..We are witnesses to the injustices that are taking place in this country, the injustice being inflicted on those who are immigrants. And we are called to come together as people of faith."

"We are praying for just immigration laws and for the rights and dignity of all those that have been, in our opinion, illegally detained and are suffering under ICE custody, as well as the ongoing unjust seizure of individuals and the disappearance of people," White said.

Among participants in the vigil were members of Pax Christi USA, National Advocacy Center, Maryknoll, Franciscan Action Network, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Good Shepherd Sisters and the Sisters of Mercy.