As immigration detention surges across the United States, the private companies building and running immense detention facilities are reporting record profits. Nearly 90% of people in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody are held in private, for-profit facilities – which have been accused of overcrowding, unsanitary and unsafe conditions, and limited access to family, legal counsel or religious expression.  

Many of us hold the command of Deuteronomy 10:19 in our hearts: to love the stranger. Showing this teaching in our daily individual and communal lives takes many forms.  

 

New Immigration Detention ResourceText over barbed wire reads, "Public Witness and For-Profit Immigration Detention."

A new resource from ELCA Advocacy and ELCA AMMPARO is titled: “You Shall Also Love the Stranger: Public Witness and For-Profit Immigration Detention.” It includes a brief history of immigration detention in the United States, a guided Bible study with questions for reflection, and concrete action steps for those interested in taking action to ensure safety and due process for all. 

  • Check out “You Shall Also Love the Stranger: Public Witness and For-Profit Immigration Detention.”  
  • Consider attending the webinar “Engaging as People of Faith Amid Rise in For-Profit Immigration Detention” on Wed., June 24 from 1-1:30 p.m. Eastern (with an optional extended Q&A session afterwards). 
    • ELCA leaders will share reflections on this contemporary challenge, including Tracey DePasquale, Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania; Kate Parsons, ELCA Program Director for Migration; the Rev. Kaari Reierson, ELCA Program Director for Corporate Social Responsibility; and the Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos, ELCA Director for Theological Diversity and Engagement. 

Promotional graphic for a webinar on faith and immigration detention scheduled for June 24, 2026.Here’s a preview of contents of the resource: 

  1. The Issue and a Lutheran Lens – including 
    1. How did we get here? 
    2. Children in detention 
    3. ELCA social teaching on private prisons and detention 
  2. Bible Study – including 
    1. Prayer
    2. Reflecting on Hebrews 13:2 and other verses 
    3. Biblical challenges and private migration detention 
  3. What Can You Do? – including 
    1. Take your money out of private immigration detention centers.
    2. Ask institutions not to invest in detention. 
    3. Join neighbors calling for no private detention in your backyard. 
    4. Advocate for people in private detention nationwide.

 

Recognizing the Humanity of Our Neighbors

Over and over again, the Bible challenges us to see the face of God in the prisoner, in the stranger, in someone who is hungry or ill or needy. When we treat people in detention as if they have no humanity and do not bear the face of God  — we ignore that challenge. In recognizing the humanity of our neighbors, we connect with the grace that God shows us — we bear witness to the love of Christ with each other. 

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