Faith leaders lead prayer march at Naval Station Great Lakes, demand ICE agents leave Chicago area

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. (WLS) -- More rallies are being held over the federal immigration operation in the Chicago area following clashes between protesters and agents Friday outside the Broadview ICE processing facility.

On Saturday, faith leaders led a prayer march outside of Naval Station Great lakes, demanding ICE agents leave Illinois.

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Demonstrators took their protest to the streets as local faith leaders, community groups and regular people demonstrated against increased immigration enforcement. Their target was Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, the base of operations for ICE agents.

"That we will not be silent, not only will we not be silent, we will not back down," said Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson with Unitarian Church of Hinsdale, Illinois.

The Saturday afternoon prayer march began with clergy gathering for a interfaith action nearby in North Chicago. The group is demanding President Donald Trump's federal immigration agents leave Illinois.

"It is horrific... not only that we are not only allowing these sorts of organizations to come into our communities and to take route in places like this, it is a indication of how this has seeped into the culture itself," said Rev. Will Esty with North Shore Unitarian Church.

Inspired by the biblical story about how the walls of a heavily-fortified city Jericho came tumbling down through God's intervention, marchers encircled the entrance to the military base seven times, hoping to bring an end to what they call a campaign of fear mongering and the terrorizing of immigrant communities.

"The biggest lawbreaker here in the country right now is ICE in the Border Patrol, we give them impunity," said Pastor Craig Mousin with Wellington United Church in Christ.

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The group said since the launch of Operation Midway blitz, there's been an uptick of federal violence, increased detentions and clashes with protestors at the Broadview ICE processing center.

"They got tear gas and hit by masked ICE agents," community activist Rev. Brendan Curran said. "Let's shout it out, we walk with you."

Demonstrators said Saturday's action was their way of standing with immigrants while denouncing the presence of federal agents in any community.

"I come from cultural, cultural family. My grandparents and great-grandparents were immigrants," protester Pam Shearman said. "They would never treat it this way."

Nearly a dozen organizations supported Saturday's march.

"Moments like these are the ones that really count we are all of our religious leaders all of our all of our allies," said Joanna Jaimes with Mano a Mano. "It's a very difficult time."

The protest was peaceful and there were no arrests. The group said their demonstrations will not end. They are planning more protests in the future.