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Ensure Immigrant Detainees' Access to Ministry Print E-mail
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
The number of immigrants detained under the custody U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in county jails has grown significantly in the past year, as the government works to deport as many immigrants as possible. Religious workers in Illinois want to ensure that those detainees are able to meet with clergy who can help them cope during their incarceration. The Illinois Access to Religious Ministry Act, HB 2747, would provide immigrants detained by ICE the same access to religious visitation as inmates in Illinois' criminal system.

 

"If workplace raids and immigrant incarcerations increase, access to spiritual support must also increase. Until that day, the day when immigrants are no longer jailed and terrorized for being undocumented, we strongly support the Access to Religious Ministry Act," said Danielle Wegman of the Chicago Metropolitan Sanctuary Alliance during a press conference last month to introduce the bill.  

 

The bill is likely to come up for a vote this week in the Illinois House of Representatives. The Chicago Metropolitan Sanctuary Alliance is asking allies, particularly those who live in southern Illinois, to call their state representatives today:

Making these phone calls is especially important if you are clergy or a religious leader. Ask your Representative to cosponsor HB 2747, the Access to Religious Ministry Act, which would grant access to religious ministry to detainees in county jails. If you don't know who your State Representative is go to http://capwiz.com/icirr/state/main/?state=IL and insert your address.

 

Read the bill here. (It is House Amendment 002 in the IL House of Representative website.) 

 
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