Photos: Faith leaders protest ICE activity in the Chicago area
Interfaith clergy, congregation members and immigrant activists of faith marched to the Great Lakes Naval Station to protest the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Chicago area.
ICE agents are using the station as its base for an immigration-enforcement campaign President Donald Trump calls "Operation Midway Blitz." Since federal agents arrived in Illinois in early September, the area has seen a spike in detainments and arrests. Agents have also fired tear gas and pepper balls on protesters, and fatally shot resident Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez.
Leaders from various faiths also led prayer and worship rituals along the march. "Saturday’s action will proclaim that people of faith stand against federal violence in all communities and stand for liberation, and dignity for all people," the group wrote in a press release.
Check out photos from the march below.
Presbyterian Rev. David Black blows a shofar outside the Great Lakes Naval Station in North Chicago to demand ICE and President Trump’s federal military presence to leave Illinois, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Rev. Black was among the protestors pepper sprayed yesterday during a stand off with law enforcement at the Broadview ICE Detention Center.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
United Methodist Rev. Violet Johnicker prays during a rally outside the Great Lakes Naval Station in North Chicago to demand ICE and President Trump’s federal military presence to leave Illinois, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Clergy facilitated prayer and worship rituals from across faith traditions in protest.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Rev. Micheal Woolf, Senior Minister of Lake Street Church of Evanston, cheers at a rally outside the Great Lakes Naval Station in North Chicago. Local clergy and community activists gathered to demand ICE and President Trump’s federal military presence to leave Illinois, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
A young girl holds a protest sign outside the Great Lakes Naval Station in North Chicago to demand ICE and President Trump’s federal military presence to leave Illinois, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Clergy facilitated prayer and worship rituals from across faith traditions in protest.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Clergy rally outside the Great Lakes Naval Station in North Chicago to demand ICE and President Trump’s federal military presence to leave Illinois, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Religious leaders facilitated prayer and worship rituals from across faith traditions in protest.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times