Detained Immigrants’ Uneven Access to Spiritual Care | Religion News Service

“There are literally dozens and dozens of these detention facilities,” said Hilary Chester, JRS/USA’s programs director. “If you are not in the five (detention centers where) ICE is quite literally contracting an organization to fill that role, then it’s up to the individual facility to staff it or to organize on a volunteer basis to somehow meet that standard. That is, I think, where you can sort of see that variability in access.”

JRS/USA holds a roughly $7 million, five-year federal contract with ICE, placing 11 chaplains at the five detention centers. Its staff lead Mass and interfaith services, provide one-on-one counseling and coordinate with nearby faith communities to meet detainees’ religious needs.

“The goal is for people who are in these really difficult settings, with all the restrictions and all the uncertainty, to at least have some access to how they want to express and practice their faith,” Chester said.

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