‘Prayer Service for the Disappeared’ highlights need for solidarity, advocacy and justice
Victims of the US immigration crackdown are honored during online service
LOUISVILLE — People from all over the country gathered online Wednesday with Migration Accompaniment Ministries (MAM) to pray for victims of the federal immigration crackdown.
MAM, which is part of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, came together with other immigration advocates and the general public for the “Prayer Service for the Disappeared,” an evening program to honor those who have been whisked into immigration custody, including many who’ve lost their lives.
“Immigration enforcement has been kidnapping people off the street," said Omar Salinas-Chacón, the associate for MAM. Detainees "disappear in what effectively are internment camps, sometimes in the middle of nowhere, far from friends ... family and even their own attorney,”
In this service, “I welcome anyone who needs the space, but I especially want to recognize those who had people in their families taken," he said. "I want you to know what happened was horrible. We recognize your pain today.”
Salinas also prayed for allies, such as Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were both fatally shot by federal immigration agents.
The service was hosted by Salinas, who prayed for those affected and recited comforting scriptures, such as Psalm 23:4 and Psalm 34:4-5. He was joined by Megan Bergert of the United Church of Christ and Julie Avila of On Earth Peace.
Praying to the Lord, Salinas said, “We are mourning. We ask that you not just be with us, but more importantly, with the people who have disappeared and their loved ones. You have guided your people through tumultuous times, from slavery in Egypt to persecution by the Roman Empire. Although we may think we are alone, help us recognize that you are always with us, even at this time. Help us see (that) our community members are there as well and that they care. Amen.”
Statistics on the immigration crackdown provided insight into the extent of the crisis.
“When the current administration took over, they increased arrests by 75% in comparison to the last year of the Biden administration,” Salinas said, and “the number of people in custody is already surpassing last year's numbers.”
He also noted, “Experts indicate that ICE arrested between 1,600 to 2,000 people per day this summer as they increased enforcement. The top states for enforcement in fiscal year 2026 were Texas, Louisiana, California, Georgia, and Florida. These states accounted for 60% of all arrests made in fiscal year 2026.”
However, Salinas stressed that persecution of immigrants goes back further than the current administration and even occurred during former President Barack Obama’s time in office.
“What's happening now is something immigrants have been facing for decades; it’s just been ramped up,” Salinas said, so “I don't want people to think that this is just one issue and that one election, whether it be the midterms or presidential election, will fix the system. Unfortunately, the system is still designed to be this cruel.”
The public was given the opportunity to contribute to a list of people who have been “disappeared by immigration enforcement,” so Salinas could mention the initials of affected persons and note their situations. He said that some of them are afraid to leave their homes, others are wearing ankle bracelets, others have been deported and still others’ whereabouts are unknown. Then there are those in detention centers, "where people are kept in perpetual incarceration, sometimes without evidence, and sometimes people are arrested for merely being a foreigner,” Salinas said.
Salinas also read the names of about 60 people who have died in immigration enforcement custody since January 2025 as well as some people who didn’t make it to detention or who died right after being released. The allies’ names were read as well.
Anyone who’s motivated to help is urged to find ways to be of support.
“We welcome you to come and join us in our advocacy and to make things better for our immigrant community members,” Salinas said. “There are several denominations at this service that offer a variety of resources. Please reach out. We always need advocates, no matter where you are, no matter what part of the country you are in, there are immigrant community members that need allies.”
For example, you might be able to “join a detention center visitation program or maybe add money to a commissary,” he said. “Talk to your lawmakers, educate the people around you, take training on how to observe ICE behavior.”
Resources, personal testimony from Salinas, an insightful quote from author Barbara Kingsolver, and a hymn also were offered in addition to a call for justice.
Salinas said in prayer to the Lord, “We come before you in a time of tribulation and persecution of our neighbors and ourselves. We can only compare this time to some of the darkest times in our collective history. We know that you will bring justice one day. The arc of history bends towards justice.”
Consider supporting the work of Migration Accompaniment Ministries by making a gift to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance fund DR000095.
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