SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Shrine of the Sacred Heart parishioner

"So we meet through Zoom and we meet for an hour, an hour and a half and we pray for them all."

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Shrine of the Sacred Heart parishioner

"They slammed my husband against a wall and tried to hit him. They were hitting him. Then I suddenly asked them why they were hitting him. And that's what happened. And they took him away. That was the last time I saw him."

THIS WOMAN HAS ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS FOR FEAR OF BEING DEPORTED.

SHE AND HER HUSBAND ENTERED THE U.S. ILLEGALLY NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO TO ESCAPE GANG VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY OF EL SALVADOR.

THE COUPLE ARE JUST SOME OF THE OVER 5,000 PARISHIONERS THAT ATTEND SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART IN WASHINGTON D.C. MANY IN THE LARGELY HISPANIC PARISH ARE NOW AFRAID TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES FOR FEAR OF BEING DEPORTED.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Shrine of the Sacred Heart parishioner

"I didn't know what to do, I was so nervous and everything. The person I decided to talk to was Father Emilio, and Father Emilio answered my call and told me to calm down.

SOUNDBITE (English) The Rev. Emilio Biosca, Shrine of the Sacred Heart

"In the parish, we were noticing that there were much more agents, ICE agents or immigration officials. During the last, say, month, six weeks. Then it began to change because it seemed as if there was one that was picked up on the street and then another and then it became very unbearable because anyone was being stopped that just looked Hispanic. So it became very difficult for the people of the parish."

THE SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART IS JUST 2 MILES FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, IN THE HEAVILY LATINO NEIGHBORHOOD OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WHICH HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF MANY ICE RAIDS IN D.C. CHURCH LEADERS SAY MORE THAN 40 MEMBERS OF THE PARISH HAVE BEEN DETAINED OR DEPORTED.

BUT HISTORICALLY THE PARISH HAS LARGELY BEEN MADE UP OF IMMIGRANTS. IT WAS ESTABLISHED A CENTURY AGO BY IRISH, ITALIAN AND GERMAN IMMIGRANTS. TODAY, MOST OF ITS 5,6000 MEMBERS COME FROM EL SALVADOR.

SOUNDBITE (English) The Rev. Emilio Biosca, Shrine of the Sacred Heart

"So, our role here at the church has changed also dramatically because we have so many people who are adversely affected by that situation. We cannot possibly go on a business as usual. Practically the first priority is to secure the well-being of the people who are members of the parish."

SOUNDBITE (English) The Rev. Emilio Biosca, Shrine of the Sacred Heart

“So, we have developed this group that's called the Cabrini Group. They're offering their assistance either by purchasing and delivering different groceries, but also by legal assistance. A number of the priests, we have accompanied different parishioners to various hearings."

ON A RECENT SATURDAY, VOLUNTEERS GATHERED IN THE CHURCH BASEMENT TO PREPARE FOOD FOR DONATION TO FAMILIES IN ISOLATION. ONE OF THEM IS A LONG-TIME CONGREGANT, ACTIVE VOLUNTEER AND A LEGAL U.S. RESIDENT WITH A GREEN CARD WHO HAS ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS FOR FEAR HER U.S. CITIZENSHIP PROCESS COULD BE DISRUPTED.

SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. permanent legal resident, member of Shrine of the Sacred Heart

"Our parishioners are being detained, our parishioners are suffering, our parishioner are not able to pay for rent and food, and a lawyer, so they have to choose what comes first. And we are really living this and suffering this as a whole.”

SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. permanent legal resident, member of Shrine of the Sacred Heart

“The fear of stepping out of your apartment and not knowing what’s going to happen. If you are going to go back home or not.”

EACH NIGHT THE SALVADORAN WOMAN JOINS A VIRTUAL GROUP TO PRAY THE ROSARY FOR HER HUSBAND AND OTHERS FACING DEPORTATION. SHE NOW SPENDS HER DAYS PACKING AND SELLING THEIR BELONGINGS IN PREPARATION TO MOVE TO BOSTON WITH FAMILY AS HER HUSBAND FACES DEPORTATION FROM A LOUISIANA DETENTION CENTER.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Shrine of the Sacred Heart parishioner

"It's been really hard. I've cried and asked God to give me a lot of strength. We came to this country because of the situation in our countries. And it hasn't been easy to come here and see what one has achieved, to work hard and strive. And to see that overnight your story changes. So we've resigned ourselves. And what we've learned in this country, if we have to leave, well, we're going to start moving forward again."