Statement from The Resurrection Project Following Court Testimony

November 5, 2025 – CHICAGO – Today, Father Brendan Curran, OP, Community Organizer at The Resurrection Project and longtime faith leader, testified before federal officials about alarming and unlawful conduct at the Broadview Detention Center. He detailed inhumane and unsanitary conditions, obstruction and force used against faith leaders and legal observers, and actions by ICE agents that violate constitutional protections and basic human dignity. Father Brendan issued the following statement about today’s hearing: 

“For nearly 20 years, we have gathered peacefully at Broadview Detention Center every Friday to pray for detained immigrants, their families, and those who work there. The violent actions and intimidation by ICE agents have fundamentally altered our ability to gather in prayer. What was once a peaceful expression of faith and solidarity has now become an act fraught with fear, as we face the threat of tear gas, rubber bullets, and arrest simply for practicing our beliefs. 

“In decades of participating in peaceful protests for social justice—including Black Lives Matter and international human rights movements—I have never felt under such direct threat of violence, arrest, and surveillance as I did at Broadview. The recent escalation has already chilled our ability to provide religious education. Students from Cristo Rey-St. Martin's Catholic High School who were scheduled to attend the vigil had their participation cancelled by school administration due to the risk of violence they would likely encounter. We have become an immigrant community under attack by agents of our own government, this must stop. 

“I am thankful to the court and Judge Ellis for hearing the voices of our community. I can only pray that the court takes action to stop this reckless campaign of intimidation and terror against our peaceful community members.”