Faith Leaders Arrested on Capitol Hill During Protest Against Trump Immigration Policies and ICE Funding

Dozens of faith leaders were arrested on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., after staging a protest against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and calling for funding restrictions on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The demonstration, organized by the advocacy group Faith in Action, took place inside the Hart Senate Office Building, where protesters gathered to make their voices heard directly in the halls of Congress.

According to organizers, the protest was a deliberate act of civil disobedience aimed at drawing national attention to what they described as the harmful impact of ICE enforcement on immigrant communities. Faith in Action said in a public statement that faith leaders felt morally compelled to act, arguing that ICE has been “terrorizing” families and communities across the United States. Protesters sat on the floor of the Senate office building, holding banners with messages such as “Do Justice, Love Kindness, Abolish ICE,” while singing and praying.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Capitol Police confirmed that demonstrating inside congressional buildings is illegal under federal law. After officers issued warnings for demonstrators to leave the premises, police proceeded with arrests. Authorities reported that at least 54 people were taken into custody, though organizers claimed that more than 60 faith leaders were arrested, including Bishop Dwayne Royster, the executive director of Faith in Action.

Video footage from the protest showed Capitol Police officers calmly arresting demonstrators as they remained seated and continued singing. The arrests highlight the growing tension surrounding U.S. immigration policy and enforcement, particularly in the wake of recent deadly incidents involving federal immigration agents.

Protests against Trump’s immigration policies have erupted nationwide following the killing of two American citizens in Minnesota earlier this month by federal immigration agents, according to protest organizers. Demonstrators across the country have called for stricter oversight of ICE, accountability for its agents, and, in some cases, the complete abolition of the agency. The Capitol Hill protest underscores how immigration remains one of the most polarizing and emotionally charged issues in American politics, continuing to mobilize activists, faith leaders, and advocacy groups alike.