Prayer Vigil For Kilmar Abrego Garcia
A prayer vigil was held on August 25 at a federal ICE office in Baltimore, Maryland, led by faith leaders advocating for justice for Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Sr. Marie Chiodo, DW and Sr. Ann Marie Gardiner, SSND both attended the vigil. Sr. Ann Marie held a sign that read, “Justice for Abrego Garcia,” and Sr. Marie shared her experience at the vigil in the story below.
“From prayer in our home to prayer with hundreds of our sisters and brothers on the steps of a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Baltimore. Faith leaders led us in a two hour prayer vigil, storming heaven for JUSTICE NOW for Kilmar Abrego Garcia,” wrote Sr. Marie.
Kilmar expressed gratitude to God and his supporters, encouraging families facing separation not to lose hope. The gathering included moments of silence, singing, and scripture reading, highlighting concerns for immigrants without legal options. Participants called for due process and compassion.
“To all families separated or threatened with separation, God is with us and God will never leave us. God will bring justice in the midst of all the injustices. Never lose hope — God is with us,” Kilmar said at the vigil.
There were times of silence and times of singing. There was the mournful sounding of the Shofar and the proclaiming of the Scriptures. There were times for sharing our concern for our country and the many immigrants whom we know and especially for the thousands without legal recourse, those disappeared into ICE detention centers,” wrote Sr. Marie.
Following the vigil, Kilmar and his family attended a check-in at the federal building, where he was arrested by ICE, facing deportation to Uganda unless he pleads guilty to unfounded charges of human smuggling and gang-related crimes, which he refused to do.
“Then came the procession accompanying Kilmar, his wife, Jenifer and his brother and attorneys to the door of the federal building for a ‘check-in.’ It was 7:45 am. By 9 am we learned that ICE arrested him on the spot and the administration plans to deport him to Uganda, unless he pleads guilty to human smuggling and gang related crimes. He refused to plead guilty to these trumped-up charges,” shared Sr. Marie.
Kilmar first applied for asylum in the US in 2019 after fleeing El Salvador because of gang violence in 2012. His application was denied due to not filing it within 12 months of entering the country, but an immigration judge withheld Garcia’s removal from the US. This was intended to prohibit him from being deported back to El Salvador. Trump administration officials ignored this and accused him of being a gang member, deporting him to a prison in El Salvador. Kilmar was brought back into the US in June, facing human struggling charges; the Trump administration plans to re-deport him to a third party country.
“Our prayer for Kilmar Abrego Garcia and all our immigrant sisters and brothers: O God you have been our dwelling place, our home through all generations.” (Ps 90:1)