Catholic leaders bring communion to immigration detainees near Chicago after court win [View all]
Source: Reuters
February 19, 2026 10:45 AM EST Updated 10 hours ago
BROADVIEW, Illinois, Feb 19 (Reuters) - For the first time in six years, two priests and a nun escorted by police have walked past barbed wire and concrete barriers to enter a Chicago-area immigration facility to give communion and ashes to detainees after a judge ordered faith leaders be allowed inside.
Catholic priest Paul Keller recounted the shocked and tear-stained faces of the immigrants at the facility on Ash Wednesday. His hands stained black from distributing ashes, Keller described it as a bittersweet moment after a months-long court battle to gain access to the facility in order to minister to detainees.
Clergy had not entered the Broadview facility west of Chicago since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, according to the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership.
"We're dealing with what should be a very non-controversial issue, which is praying with people who are detained and providing them some comfort," Keller told Reuters. "It's unfortunate that it's happening because of a lawsuit."
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/catholic-leaders-bring-communion-immigration-detainees-near-chicago-after-court-2026-02-19/
Link to ORDER (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ilnd.490229/gov.uscourts.ilnd.490229.26.0.pdf
(judge is a Clinton appointee)
REFERENCES
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143558785
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143588006
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