Catholics Protest US Immigration Policies Outside Wyatt Detention Center

Faith leaders and migrant advocates marched to the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls this week to protest immigration detention and deportation practices, calling for greater protection for migrants and asylum seekers.

Around 60 clergy members, parishioners, and community organisers took part in the demonstration, which was organised by the Diocese of Providence alongside the migrant ministry M25:35 and the workers’ justice group Fuerza Laboral. Participants walked together to the detention facility, which houses people held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Outside the centre, Father Bob Mosher of the Bristol Columban Fathers led prayers and spoke against racial profiling, family separation, and the deportation of asylum seekers. He said many detainees have no criminal records and face serious risks if returned to their countries of origin. His remarks linked contemporary migration to Christian teaching, including reflections on what he described as key moments of migration in the life of Jesus.

The demonstration formed part of a wider effort by faith-based groups in Rhode Island to respond to changes in federal immigration policy. M25:35, which initially focused on refugee resettlement, has shifted its work towards supporting migrant families already living in the state. Fuerza Laboral continues to train parish volunteers and families to respond to immigration enforcement actions and related emergencies.

The protest followed a Witness to Hope conference held last week at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. The event brought together the Diocese and national organisations such as the HOPE Border Institute and the Center for Migration Studies to examine migration through a faith-based perspective. Bishop Bruce Lewandowski opened the conference by urging Catholics to take an active role in immigration advocacy.

One outcome of the conference was the establishment of a new Migration Commission within the Diocese of Providence. The commission is intended to strengthen efforts to oppose detention and deportation practices and to coordinate support for affected families.

During the demonstration at Wyatt, those gathered reported hearing detainees respond by striking the windows inside the facility. Father Mosher led a Rosary that focused on episodes of displacement in the life of Jesus, linking prayer with public protest.

The event included participants from faith traditions beyond Catholicism, reflecting an expanding interfaith coalition concerned about the impact of immigration enforcement on human dignity. Organisers said the gathering highlighted shared concerns as migration continues to be driven by factors including violence, poverty, and climate change.

Organisers described the demonstration as an expression of moral responsibility rooted in religious belief. With the new diocesan commission now in place, faith leaders said they intend to continue pressing for policy changes alongside pastoral support for migrants and their families.