By Claire Taylor, Staff Writer
On Nov. 12, Wheaton College’s student chaplains partnered with the Wheaton Advocate group to host a panel discussion on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in the Chicago area. The event, titled “Stories of Justice, Paths of Mercy” and sponsored by the Chaplain’s Office, focused on how Christians should react and help in the situation.
Catherine Norquist, an employee of World Relief Chicagoland, opened the event by sharing statistics on recent immigration crackdowns.
Currently, there are 59,792 people in ICE detention facilities. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported on Oct. 27 that more than half a million immigrants have been removed from the United States this year. Norquist explained that the discrepancy between these numbers is a result of deportations and wrongful arrests.
Only 7% of people detained nationally have been convicted of a violent crime, she said. Norquist also noted that one in 12 Christian households in the United States is at risk of having at least one family member deported, although she pointed out that people should not care if those being deported are Christians or not.
She closed by highlighting volunteer opportunities at World Relief and encouraged attendees to call their representatives and state senators to communicate that the way immigrants are currently being treated is not widely supported.
Kelly Wilson, a panelist and the partnership and placement manager in the Human Needs and Global Resources program, discussed her involvement with Mennonite Action Chicago (MAC), an organization that was first formed to support Palestinians. Through MAC, Wilson has been involved with efforts to support immigrants amidst the heavy ICE presence.
“If one is suffering, then all suffer with them,” Wilson said, referencing 1 Corinthians 12:26.
Andrew Luhmann, associate professor of geology, shared that he and his family have been involved with anti-ICE efforts, including patrolling, since early September. “My sons pulled out their phones and started recording, and as they were doing that, they chased ICE away four times just today,” he said.
He spoke about the ways that the wider Chicago community has been donating food, clothing and other supplies to immigrants, particularly those who are afraid of being targeted if they leave their homes.
“The extent of dehumanization is so significant, it’s causing so much trauma, it’s causing so much terror,” Luhmann said.
West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey also joined the panel and spoke about participating in protests in his city.
He also shared the effects the immigration crackdown has had on human trafficking. The federal agency tasked with helping communities fight human trafficking is ICE, but due to the agency’s heavy focus on immigration enforcement, human trafficking cases have been dropped or are left uninvestigated.
The final panelist was Joel Jara, an immigrant who works with DuPage Health Coalition.
Immigrants who receive aid from the DuPage Health Coalition have come to Jara asking for support. One woman shared that her husband had been deported to Mexico and her brother detained and taken to Texas.
“We are dealing with a crisis,” Jara said. “I do not want to be dramatic, but domestic terrorism is what is taking place.”
The event concluded with a time of prayer followed by worship in both Spanish and English.
Senior Jenalie Hemphill, a founder of the student advocate group, said she was surprised Wheaton College permitted the event. “I am really proud of what was able to be said,” she said.
ICE agents have now begun deportations and arrests in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, a DHS source told the Chicago Sun-Times that as many as 1,000 agents could arrive in Chicago in March, compared with the 250 agents that have been active in the area since September.
“There is a need for using whatever downtime there is to retool and be ready,” Bovey said.
