Chicago bishop visits immigrant detainee as judge blocks Trump from sending troops to city

[Episcopal News Service] Chicago Bishop Paula Clark visited this week with an immigrant detainee from her diocese who is being held at a facility in Michigan, where he spoke to Clark of “the emotional toll of his detention — the isolation, uncertainty, and hardship he faces daily.”

Clark issued a written statement after visiting Oct. 7 with Willian González at the North Lake Detention Center in Baldwin, Michigan, north of Grand Rapids. González, a member of St. Paul and the Redeemer Episcopal Church in Chicago, Illinois, has been in federal custody since Sept. 12. 

“As an asylum seeker with a valid work permit, he is confused by his continued detention and deeply concerned about the wellbeing of his wife and children, for whom he is the primary provider,” Clark said. “Despite these challenges, Willian remains grounded in faith and expressed deep gratitude for the support of his church community.”

Episcopalians at González’s congregation and around the Diocese of Chicago have rallied in support of him, including at an Oct. 7 prayer vigil hosted by St. Paul and the Redeemer. He was scheduled for an immigration hearing the following morning, but it was postponed to Oct. 29.

“In the coming weeks, we ask for continued prayers and support for Willian, his family, and his community. His journey is difficult, but he remains steadfast — uplifted by the love and solidarity of those who stand with him,” Clark said. “I give thanks for the support and prayers he continues to receive, and for our diocese’s unwavering commitment to justice and compassion.”

Clark’s visit to the detention facility came as tensions were escalated this week between local civic leaders and federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration has pushed to send troops into Chicago, saying a military presence was necessary to protect and support immigration enforcement agents who have been carrying out raids in the city since early September. Illinois’ governor and Chicago’s mayor have said mobilizing troops is an unnecessary provocation, and state authorities have sued to block the military intervention.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has taken an increasingly aggressive approach toward immigration enforcement in Chicago, the United States’ third largest city, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to ramp up arrests and deportations and fulfill a campaign promise of sharply reducing both legal and illegal immigration. More than 1,000 immigrants have been arrested in Chicago in the past month.

On Oct. 9, a federal judge temporarily blocked the deployment of federal troops and federalized National Guard members to Chicago, saying the Trump administration’s descriptions of the potential dangers in the city “are simply unreliable.”