Indiana Faith Leaders Protest ICE Detention Expansion at Miami Facility

Religious leaders and communities across Indiana have organized prayer vigils and protests against the state's partnership with the Trump administration to detain up to 1,000 immigrants at the Miami Correctional Facility, nicknamed the “Speedway Slammer,” a term many find dehumanizing. These faith leaders emphasize the importance of preserving human dignity and criticize the language used by authorities, which they see as derogatory and contrary to their religious values. Similar concerns are echoed nationwide, including in California, where ICE raids near churches have caused fear among congregants, prompting clergy to take extraordinary actions. Additionally, attention is being drawn to the children left behind after their parents are arrested and deported by ICE, with vigils held to support these children who live in fear and uncertainty. Faith communities continue to call for love, due process, and peaceful protest against immigration detention policies and practices they view as harmful and unjust. The timeline for the opening of these detention centers remains unclear, but opposition from religious and civic groups persists.