Two decades ago, long before the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement facility in west suburban Broadview became the site of daily protests, it was a place of prayer — at least on Friday mornings.

It was 2006. The country had just conducted the largest workplace raid in its history. A group of Catholics would gather, whatever the weather, to pray for the immigrants inside, their families, and the ICE officers. What started as two nuns and a local immigration attorney holding vigil right outside of the building has become a weekly practice that continues to this day — albeit now a block and a half away from the facility, due to protest zones and curfew restrictions .

“We had a very large group praying with us last Friday, and we plan to be there again this Friday, and every Friday goi

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