Ramirez & Faith Leaders Stand United to Protect Local Families & Communities from Federal Attacks
Ramirez & Faith Leaders Stand United to Protect Local Families & Communities from Federal Attacks
August 18, 2025
CHICAGO, IL — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) convened local faith leaders and community defense organizations to discuss the critical role faith communities play in supporting families impacted by the Trump Administration’s attacks and policies. From immigration defense and protection of workers to assisting with food and fighting the criminalization of unhoused neighbors, the leaders shed light on the work their communities have done and how they must stand stronger together to serve the most vulnerable.
During the interfaith convening, Ramirez and local organizations shared information to equip faith leaders to continue supporting neighbors during these challenging times.
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. It’s powerful to be in a room with faithful people who hope for a just future. In hard moments, when faith feels difficult, we must remember we are not alone and lean into what we know - that community keeps us safe,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “Now more than ever, it’s important that people see faith leaders and faith communities stepping into hope, faith, and action: declaring that we will love our neighbors, welcome the stranger, care for the vulnerable.”
The convening counted with the participation of the Public Policy Director at Arise Chicago Adam Kader, Executive Director at CAIR-Chicago Ahmed Rehab, Palenque LSNA’s Rev. Juan Pablo Herrera, and Sanctuary Movement's Pastora Emma Lozano as panelists. The group shared their expertise with nearly 20 faith leaders of various religions and denominations.
“Sanctuary is not a crime, it’s a moral duty. Sanctuary is not only a protection, it’s about resistance. It’s about declaring every human being deserves dignity, safety, and belonging,” said Pastora Emma Lozano, Sanctuary Movement.
“I invite you all to join ARISE Chicago in defending our immigrant neighbors and coworkers, to exercise their rights, to work free from fear, and free from oppression,” added Adam Kader, Public Policy Director at ARISE Chicago, who invited participants to a mobilization action during Labor Day.
“Civil rights are a subset of human rights, and human rights are a subset of empathy for all creatures. What our movement is about is to wake us up from whatever division may exist, whatever fearmongering and terrorizing that happens–usually by really wealthy, privileged people that divide– to stand up together, here in the United States and abroad, for our common humanity and our common existence,” said Executive Director at CAIR-Chicago, Ahmed Rehab.
“As Christians, we follow a God that tells us all the time to welcome a stranger, to love our neighbor, to stand with the most vulnerable, and the Bible for us is clear on that. So I ask you: what does it mean when a stranger is not welcomed but is hunted in our streets? Or when a child sees flashing lights and doesn’t think of safety, but instead thinks of separation? This is an attack on the very image of God in our community,” expressed Rev. Juan Pablo Herrera, Palenque LSNA
For videos and photos about the convening, CLICK HERE.
For a live stream, CLICK HERE.
BACKGROUND:
As part of her efforts to protect faith communities from the Trump administration's attacks, Congresswoman Ramirez co-leads the introduction of the bicameral Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. The landmark legislation would codify commonsense protections for immigrant communities at sensitive locations like churches, schools, and hospitals amid the rise of vicious targeting and attacks by ICE.
Congresswoman Ramirez also condemned and is demanding an end to the Homeland Security Committee Republicans' persecution of more than 200 civil society organizations, including religious groups, charities, and community-based groups, lawfully providing support to their communities, including immigrants and asylum-seekers.