Catholic leaders and union workers launch memorial

Catholic leaders and union workers unveiled 104 hand-painted wooden crosses bearing names of people who died in immigration custody or federal operations since 2020.

“This side of this exhibit is a very clear indication that our system is broken, and we have to do something better than this for the future of this country”

Crosses will be displayed at Holy Name Cathedral

The crosses will be displayed at Holy Name Cathedral before moving to other parishes and schools in the Chicago area, including St. Sabina in Auburn Gresham and the Catholic Theological Union school in Hyde Park.

Rev. Brendan Curran calls for reform

Rev. Brendan Curran, co-founder of Priests for Justice for Immigrants, said the project honors victims and works toward better treatment of immigrants, including supporting political candidates who support immigrant rights.

“This side of this exhibit is a very clear indication that our system is broken, and we have to do something better than this for the future of this country”

Rev. Curran urges voter participation

Curran encouraged Catholics and immigrant advocates to vote in November midterm elections and pressure Congress to restore temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants.

Curran supports Drain ICE Act

Curran also urged support for the Drain ICE Act, a bill introduced in February that would pull $75 billion from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal immigration enforcement systems.

Names on crosses include Silverio Villegas González

Among the names on the 104 crosses are Silverio Villegas González, a father of two fatally shot by ICE agents in Franklin Park last fall, and Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti, protesters shot to death by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year.

Lesser-known names also honored

Other names include people who died in immigration detention facilities and an Arizona man reportedly hit by a car fleeing immigration agents.

“People deserve to have their recognition that this is a human person”

Rev. Larry Dowling prays at launch

Rev. Larry Dowling prayed during a launch event at Holy Name Cathedral for The Immigrant Crosses memorial.

Chicago Federation of Labor builds crosses

The crosses were constructed and painted by union workers with the Chicago Federation of Labor, linking workers' rights and immigrant rights.

Don Villar links workers and immigrant rights

Don Villar, secretary-treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor, said workers' rights and immigrant rights are inextricably linked in this moment of division.

“In this moment where, where folks are being marginalized, and folks are being disrespected and abused constantly, and division, maybe this is a moment to find unity and community in the cross, right”

Crosses memorialize broader tragedies

Other crosses read 'Deaths of mothers at the border' and 'Deaths of children in detention' to highlight systemic impacts.