How Faith Leaders Are Building a National Network to Resist ICE Enforcement

What began as a local response to intensified immigration enforcement in Minneapolis has quickly evolved into a nationwide faith-based organizing effort. Hundreds of clergy representing a broad spectrum of religious traditions gathered in the city for an intensive, short-notice convening focused on confronting federal immigration operations through moral witness, public presence and coordinated action.

The assembly brought together Christian pastors, rabbis, Muslim leaders, Buddhists, Indigenous spiritual practitioners and others, many of whom traveled thousands of miles with little advance planning. Organizers said the speed and scale of the response reflected a deep sense of urgency shared across faith communities.

Rather than functioning as a conventional conference, the gathering blended worship, protest training and strategic planning. Participants described it as both a spiritual revival and a practical boot camp for clergy preparing to confront similar enforcement actions in their own cities.

Minneapolis as a Testing Ground

Faith leaders repeatedly described Minneapolis as a proving ground for strategies that may soon be needed nationwide. Local organizers shared firsthand experience responding to a dramatic increase in federal agents operating in immigrant neighborhoods, offering guidance on how clergy can safely observe, document and respond to enforcement actions.

Many attendees said they had not previously witnessed immigration raids in person. For some, seeing masked agents demand documentation in public spaces was a transformative experience that reshaped their understanding of the current political moment.

Training sessions throughout the day covered topics ranging from legal observation and de-escalation to sustaining spiritual care during prolonged periods of protest. Others focused on nonviolent direct action, song leadership and maintaining solidarity across religious differences.

From Sanctuary to Street Action

The convening made clear that many faith leaders no longer see traditional sanctuary-based responses as sufficient. Speakers emphasized that preaching and statements alone cannot address the fear experienced by immigrant families who avoid leaving their homes.

On the second day, clergy participated in direct actions across the city. Some assisted churches distributing food and supplies to families in hiding. Others joined singing demonstrations outside corporate sites accused of facilitating federal enforcement activity.

The largest action took place near a major airport, where hundreds of faith leaders gathered despite extreme cold. While many returned to the sidewalk, a group of clergy remained in the roadway, kneeling, praying and singing as police carried out arrests. Organizers described the moment as a deliberate act of public prayer intended to make moral resistance visible.

Content Block: Why Clergy Are Preparing for What Comes Next

Beyond the events in Minneapolis, organizers say the deeper goal is long-term infrastructure. Participants left with toolkits, contact networks and training materials designed to be replicated in cities across the country.

Faith leaders described the effort as preparation rather than reaction. They anticipate that immigration enforcement tactics used in Minneapolis will expand elsewhere, and they want clergy to be ready — not just to protest, but to accompany affected communities, document abuses and provide sustained moral leadership.

Several participants said the movement marks a shift in how religious authority is exercised in public life. Instead of acting primarily as commentators, clergy are positioning themselves as active witnesses whose presence can slow harm, offer protection and challenge fear through collective action.

Organizers confirmed that similar convenings are already being discussed in other regions.

A Movement Shaped by Memory and Moral Duty

Historical memory played a powerful role throughout the gathering. Participants referenced civil rights struggles, Indigenous resistance movements and past failures of religious communities to act early enough in moments of crisis.

Many clergy framed their involvement as a matter of identity rather than ideology. To remain silent, they said, would contradict the core teachings of their traditions.

As the convening concluded, participants expressed confidence that what took shape in Minneapolis would not remain there. If federal enforcement continues to escalate, they said, faith-based resistance — trained, networked and prepared — will surface in cities across the United States.

The message carried forward was simple and resolute: when human dignity is threatened, faith must move — visibly, collectively and without delay.