Clergy Granted Holy Week Access to Chicago-Area ICE Facility

Catholic clergy can minister to detainees at a Chicago-area immigration facility during the upcoming Holy Week holidays, a Chicago federal judge ruled Tuesday, rejecting significant pushback from government attorneys who wanted their access barred.

“I just don’t see any reason for there to be an absolute ban on this,” Judge Robert Gettleman said from the bench ahead of issuing a written order, noting that there was a long history of prayer and religious ministry at the Broadview, Ill., building before Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign surged in Chicago last year.

The plaintiffs had also asked for regular access to the ...