(LifeSiteNews) — Catholic clergy were barred from distributing Holy Communion to detainees at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois.

In a video posted to X, a group of priests, nuns, and laity is seen approaching the walls of the ICE facility and requesting entry to administer the sacrament. They had taken part in a march that began at the local St. Eulalia Church in Maywood.

ICE denies a group of Christians’ request for entry to the Broadview ICE facility to bring communion to detainees pic.twitter.com/vVh7dvaRzE

— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 11, 2025

After placing a call to a superior, a state police representative told the group that their request had been denied, with no further explanation.

One priest, Father Dan Hartnett, then asked the state trooper whether there were any ministers in the facility who already distribute Holy Communion.

“Do you have any ministers inside the facility that could do that? Is there a chaplain on-site?” asked Fr. Hartnett. “No, sir,” the state trooper replied.

In an effort to address the rejection, Hartnett explained to the press that local sheriffs routinely invite chaplains to distribute Holy Communion to detainees.

“I explained to him how we bring Communion to the county jail all the time,” he said. “So I would say, following the same spirit, logic, and generosity, they would want us to bring Communion to the people here.… It brings them the peace and solace that they deserve.”

Father Larry Dowling, another priest on-site carrying the Blessed Sacrament in exposition, added that the incident was a violation of the law.

“A law was passed a number of years ago by the state of Illinois that says chaplains can go into the detention facilities and should be allowed to,” stated Fr. Dowling.

Illinois law says that clergy members should never be barred from entering a detention center unless there is an excessive risk involved with the process.

Illinois’ Faith Behind Bars Act states, “All correctional institutions and facilities in this State shall not bar chaplains from access to committed persons absent evidence of potential harm or threat to the security of the State’s correctional system.”