Priest Interrupts Mass in Chicago to Warn of ICE Presence Outside Church

• Priest Warns of ICE Presence at a Chicago church
• Community Protects Migrant Families
• Neighbors Form Human Chain

On Sunday, October 12, during a Spanish-language Mass at St. Jerome Church in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, a priest stopped the ceremony to alert worshippers about the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the church parking lot.

The situation caused fear among migrant families in attendance and triggered a swift community response to support and accompany those who feared being detained upon leaving.

“La migra is in the parking lot,” the priest can be heard saying in one of the videos that later circulated on social media. “There’s a group here in front of the church,” he added during the morning service.

Priest Interrupts Mass in Chicago Church and Warns Parishioners About ICE Presence

ICE set up a raid outside Catholic church—priest has to give special warning during mass.

«I think they’ve been casing the church… the mass times are down,» said a neighbor.

«Right now, nobody wants to come out, because they don’t want to be deported,» one parishioner said.… pic.twitter.com/kvWkFi5zB9

— LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 (@LongTimeHistory) October 14, 2025

In the video shared online, the priest urges attendees to remain calm and not leave the building alone while agents are outside.

He also suggests that anyone feeling unsafe should wait for accompaniment before heading to their vehicles or returning home.

You may also like: ICE Fines Legal Resident in Chicago for Not Carrying Green Card

The priest asked some community members to organize support, especially for families with small children. “Those who have babies can also leave with them,” he said.

“It’s dangerous if you go out to the parking lot, especially if you don’t have documents,” he warned, according to Telemundo.

The situation created tension among the predominantly Spanish-speaking congregation, who were attending their regular Sunday service.

Witnesses Saw Agents Detaining a Man Outside the Church

ICE was waiting outside another Church during Sunday mass! This was the Church of San Geronimo in Chicago and this is so against God! Imagine the Priest having to make sure you’re able to get out safely while praying to the Lord! pic.twitter.com/yRAFTWQHbe

— Suzie rizzio (@Suzierizzo1) October 13, 2025

While the priest was issuing the warning inside, witnesses outside reported that federal agents were detaining a man in front of the church.

“There were about four guys,” said a neighbor identified as Julie in an interview with NBC Chicago. “They were in plain clothes and saying something to the car, and I started yelling from the window for them to leave,” she said.

According to NBC Chicago, the ICE agents questioned the man for several minutes before leaving the area where the church is located.

It remains unclear whether this was an official ICE operation or if any arrests followed. As of now, immigration authorities have not provided an official statement about the incident.

Neighbors Form Human Chain to Protect Worshippers

After learning of the ICE agents’ presence outside the Chicago church, several neighbors went outside to ensure that parishioners could leave safely.

Julie, who filmed and shared the video with local media, said she and other residents formed a human chain at the church entrance to accompany migrant families.

“I felt sorry for them. They were inside, afraid to come out,” she said.

Later that afternoon, a group of volunteers returned to St. Jerome Church during a bilingual Mass to provide further support and prevent panic.

“I’m responding to the fear my neighbors feel just for going to church,” said Angie Gunn, a member of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, who volunteered to assist.

The Rogers Park community has stated it will continue organizing efforts to accompany and protect migrant families attending religious services in the area.

The incident has reignited debate over ICE actions in sensitive locations, such as churches, which civil rights organizations argue should remain off-limits for immigration enforcement.