Clergy Nationwide Unite to Resist ICE Efforts
In a powerful display of unity and resolve, over 600 religious leaders from diverse faiths gathered at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis on January 22, 2026, to take a stand against President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. This assembly was more than a mere protest; it marked the birth of a formidable coalition aimed at resisting the aggressive tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Clergy Nationwide Unite to Resist ICE Efforts
Rev. Rebecca Voelkel of the United Church of Christ addressed the audience with heartfelt emotion, urging attendees to embody the biblical call to justice, framed through a contemporary lens: “Do justice. Love kindness. Abolish ICE.” This event exemplified a broader commitment to civil rights, echoing themes from the historic Selma marches, as faith leaders converged to learn from Minneapolis’s ongoing resistance efforts.
This assembly, orchestrated by Multifaith Antiracism, Change and Healing (MARCH), acted as an activist training ground, where clergy were encouraged to hone their strategies for combating ICE’s operations in their own communities. The speed of organization—from invitation to assembly in just one week—suggests a growing urgency among religious leaders to respond to the escalating immigration crisis.
| Stakeholder | Before the Event | After the Event |
|---|---|---|
| Clergy | Isolated in advocacy efforts | Organized, unified resistance network |
| ICE | Facing limited opposition | Now facing an organized faith-based resistance |
| Local Communities | Minimal support for affected immigrants | Increased local support and visibility for immigrant rights |
Motivations Behind the Gathering
The motivations behind this unification are layered. Many clergy had previous experiences with civil rights activism and recognized the immediate need to oppose a system that threatens vulnerable communities. “What’s happening here is a testing ground for what’s gonna happen in the rest of the country,” noted Becky Silverstein from Boston, emphasizing the importance of local strategies informed by the Minneapolis response.
The eclectic mix of participants—who included Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, and Indigenous leaders—signified a multi-faceted front, advocating for justice that transcends denominational boundaries. This intersection of faith and activism serves as a tactical hedge against polarizing policies that target immigrant communities disproportionately.
Projected Outcomes
The repercussions of the Minneapolis gathering are likely to extend well beyond the city. As faith leaders return to their locales equipped with new skills and collaborative strategies, we can expect:
- Increased Activism: A more pronounced role for faith leaders in immigration advocacy as congregations mobilize nationally.
- Broader Coalitions: Formation of expanded networks linking different faiths and secular organizations to bolster resistance efforts against ICE.
- National Protests: A series of targeted protests mirroring the strategies developed in Minneapolis, focusing on locations where ICE is most active.
This moment in Minneapolis symbolizes a turning point in the national conversation about immigration policy. As these leaders unite under a banner of justice, their collective voice could reshape how communities engage with, and resist, federal immigration enforcement across the United States, and potentially beyond.
