(AURORA, COLORADO, USA) On November 23, 2025, hundreds of Catholics gathered in cold evening light outside the Aurora ICE Detention Facility, praying the Stations of the Cross as Denver’s Catholic Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila accused both major U.S. political parties of failing the immigrants held inside. Standing before candles, rosaries, and homemade signs, he said politicians “have treated immigrants as pawns for their own elections, for their own desires. And they have failed every immigrant.”
Purpose and tone of the gathering
The event drew Catholics from more than 36 parishes across the Denver area and was described by church leaders as a strictly prayerful event rather than a protest. Still, the message delivered outside the detention center’s fences was pointed.
Archbishop Aquila framed the evening as a moral response to what he called a broken immigration system and to what many church leaders see as dehumanizing treatment of migrants in custody.
“Human dignity comes from God alone and cannot be granted or taken away by any government,” the archbishop said, stressing the worth of each person held at the Aurora facility regardless of immigration status.
Who attended and why
- Priests, religious sisters, lay leaders, and families with children participated.
- Many inside the facility are reported to be Catholic, which motivated local parish leaders to bring public prayer directly to the detention center grounds.
- Organizers emphasized that the service was intended both as prayer and as a signal to those inside that they are not alone.
The devotion and its meaning
Organizers chose the Stations of the Cross to connect Christ’s suffering with the pain, fear, and uncertainty many immigrants experience in detention. As the group moved from station to station, they paused to remember:
– those separated from family,
– those facing removal,
– those who have fled violence, poverty, or human trafficking.
Speakers linked the devotion to concrete hardships and urged attendees to see detainees as people with names, stories, and families — not just statistics in political debates.
Local and wider church context
Archbishop Aquila tied the local gathering to a broader church response:
– The service followed statements from Pope Leo and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which criticized harsh enforcement tactics and called for more compassion in treatment of migrants.
– The bishops’ conference has long highlighted the human cost of detention, including isolation and strain on families.
Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes that public faith-based gatherings at detention centers often become a way for religious communities to “accompany” migrants through prayer and presence, even when they have limited power over legal outcomes.
Key concerns raised
Speakers and organizers pointed to several interconnected issues:
– Family separation and the emotional toll on relatives
– Human trafficking and abuse driving people to flee their countries
– The dehumanizing effect of political debates that reduce migrants to numbers or threats
Remember the message: each person has a name and story. Use this perspective to guide discussions beyond headlines when engaging policymakers or sharing experiences with others.
For many attendees, Archbishop Aquila’s charge that leaders have treated immigrants as pawns summed up the crowd’s frustration.
Archbishop Aquila’s message and call to action
Though sharply critical of both political parties, Archbishop Aquila did not endorse either side. His focus was on shared responsibility:
- Urge Catholics and people of goodwill to defend human dignity.
- Examine not just campaign promises but how policies operate in places like Aurora, where detainees can spend months away from family and legal help.
- Press lawmakers for policies that respect life and dignity at every stage.
He repeatedly emphasized that dignity is given by God and cannot be handed out by politicians or agencies. He asked those present to:
– continue praying for migrants,
– support families affected by detention,
– advocate for humane policies.
The setting and its symbolism
Holding the Stations of the Cross in front of fences and security lighting created a stark visual connection between prayer and policy. Participants were acutely aware that, just beyond the gathering, immigrants were spending another night in cells or dorms awaiting hearings or deportation flights.
Organizers hoped the prayers, hymns, and scripture readings might carry inside, even faintly, as a reminder that the outside world had not forgotten those detained.
Official context and resources
The federal government states that detention centers are used to ensure people appear for immigration hearings and to maintain control of the border system. More information about immigration detention and enforcement policies is available on the official U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.
Verify current ICE policies and parish guidance before bringing any items or participating—detention centers often have strict rules about donations, photography, and access.
Church leaders at the Aurora gathering did not dispute the state’s authority to manage borders but argued that any system must:
– respect basic human rights,
– allow humane treatment for those in custody.
After the service and ongoing parish action
As people left the Aurora ICE Detention Facility, many remained silent, holding rosaries or small crosses. Others spoke quietly about relatives facing immigration hearings or parish efforts to provide support.
Examples of parish actions mentioned:
– drives to collect letters and religious items for detainees,
– parish-level prayer groups focusing on immigrant families,
– local advocacy aimed at lawmakers.
Closing takeaway
The gathering demonstrated how faith communities engage in the immigration debate not through campaign slogans but with prayer, moral witness, and personal stories. Whether such actions will change policy remains uncertain. For the immigrants held behind the detention center walls, however, the sight of hundreds praying outside on a cold November evening sent a clear message: the Church sees them, prays for them, and insists their dignity is not up for debate.
On Nov. 23, 2025, hundreds prayed the Stations of the Cross outside the Aurora ICE Detention Facility. Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila criticized both political parties for dehumanizing migrants and called for policies that respect human dignity. Attendees from over 36 parishes sought to accompany detainees through prayer, supply letters and religious items, and push lawmakers for humane treatment. The vigil connected religious witness with advocacy while emphasizing pastoral support.
