Aleja Hertzler-McCain

Sen. Dick Durbin speaks at a hearing.

Speaking at the Senate hearing w/DHS Sec. Kristi Noem just now, Sen. Dick Durbin cited the USCCB's recent critique of the agency's reported plans: “The thought of holding thousands of families in massive warehouses should challenge the conscience of every American." www.usccb.org/news/2026/th...

El Paso ICE Camp East Montana under quarantine after measles outbreak Camp East Montana, the ICE immigration detention center in El Paso, is under quarantine following a measles outbreak.

There are over 100 people under quarantine in Camp East Montana in El Paso due to a measles outbreak. This is due to the lack of sanitation there, experts say.

This is my update to the story I wrote early today.

El Paso ICE Camp East Montana under quarantine after measles outbreak Camp East Montana, the ICE immigration detention center in El Paso, is under quarantine following a measles outbreak.

El Paso Times has confirmed the quarantine:

www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/i...

Hearing from several of my sources that the largest immigration detention center in the country, Camp East Montana, is now in a facility-wide quarantine due to the measles outbreak there. Visitation is suspended indefinitely.

DHS has not gotten back to me yet.

Cardinal Dolan says Vance apologized for claiming bishops were pro-immigrant for the money Despite Dolan’s condemnation of Vance’s comments, he said in the EWTN interview that Vance is 'a very good guy. I enjoy him a lot.'

Despite Dolan’s condemnation of Vance’s comments, he said in the EWTN interview that Vance is 'a very good guy. I enjoy him a lot.'

After anti-abortion backlash, Notre Dame professor declines director position Catholic bishops, Notre Dame students and alumni and other anti-abortion Catholics had vocally opposed the appointment since it was announced Jan. 8.

religionnews.com/2026/02/26/a... @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social

Weekly Roundup: Feb. 27 Here’s the weekly roundup from A Public Witness. In addition to a review of a new book on MAGA politics that is free for anyone to read, paid subscribers to A Public Witness received a look at some un...

Our latest religion news roundup features insights from @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social, @bmietana.bsky.social, @markwingdallas.bsky.social, @rickpidcock.bsky.social, @texasnewsdude.bsky.social, @sky-latte.bsky.social, @robertpjones.bsky.social, @kevinjfrey.bsky.social, @kaylaguo.bsky.social, and more!

Catholic bishops: Trump’s assault on birthright citizenship affronts Catholic teaching 'By recognizing children as members of a particular political community, birthright citizenship acknowledges the intrinsic value of every human person,' the brief reads.

Via myself and @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social: In a new brief, Catholic bishops call Trump's assault on birthright citizenship an affront to Catholic teaching —> religionnews.com/2026/02/27/u...

"To Dismantle The Principle Of Birthright Citizenship Would Undermine Both The Legal And Moral Foundations of American Society" — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network), in this brief

Hundreds of United Methodists rally to dismantle ICE outside Capitol ‘We demand that ICE and CBP be dismantled,’ said retired United Methodist Bishop Minerva Garza Carcaño at the rally.

religionnews.com/2026/02/25/h... @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social

Hundreds of United Methodists rally to dismantle ICE outside Capitol ‘We demand that ICE and CBP be dismantled,’ said retired United Methodist Bishop Minerva Garza Carcaño at the rally.

Here’s the story: religionnews.com/2026/02/25/h...

Hundreds of United Methodists rally to dismantle ICE outside Capitol ‘We demand that ICE and CBP be dismantled,’ said retired United Methodist Bishop Minerva Garza Carcaño at the rally.

Via Aleja Hertzler-McCain: Hundreds of United Methodists rally to dismantle ICE outside Capitol religionnews.com/2026/02/25/h...

Interesting! It’s working on mine, so I hope it works for others!

At Capitol Hill United Methodist for a worship service before an immigration protest. The building is at capacity, and they are sending people away. Follow my reporting for @rns.org

Minnesota faith groups sue DHS over access to immigrant detainees It's at least the second lawsuit challenging the federal government's policy of barring faith leaders from accessing some DHS facilities.

NEW: Three Minnesota faith groups/leaders — local ELCA and UCC bodies, and a Jesuit priest — are suing DHS over its refusal to grant them access to immigrant detainees at a federal building.

It's one of 2 related suits filed against the government in recent months. religionnews.com/2026/02/23/f...

She was an orphan adopted from Iran by a US veteran and became Christian. The Trump administration wants to deport her A woman adopted as a toddler by an American war veteran, who he found in the 1970s in an Iranian orphanage and raised as a Christian, is being threatened with deportation to Iran.

cruxnow.com/church-in-th...

Cardinal Dolan says Vance apologized for claiming bishops were pro-immigrant for the money Despite Dolan’s condemnation of Vance’s comments, he said in the EWTN interview that Vance is 'a very good guy. I enjoy him a lot.'

religionnews.com/2026/02/20/c... @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social

Cardinal Dolan says Vance apologized for claiming bishops were pro-immigrant for the money Despite Dolan’s condemnation of Vance’s comments, he said in the EWTN interview that Vance is 'a very good guy. I enjoy him a lot.'

Via Aleja Hertzler-McCain at @rns: Cardinal Dolan says Vance apologized for claiming bishops were pro-immigrant for the money

Ash Wednesday protests and Masses make solidarity with immigrants a Lenten theme Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich told immigrants that Trump administration deportation efforts had acquainted them with Ash Wednesday’s Scripture passage about practicing faith in secret.

religionnews.com/2026/02/19/c... @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social

Weekly Roundup: Feb. 20 Here’s the weekly roundup from A Public Witness. Over the past week, we published a report on a significant legal ruling, broke the news about Doug Wilson preaching at the Pentagon, and analyzed probl...

Our fresh religion news roundup features insights from @adellembanks.bsky.social, @prri.org, @emilybelz.bsky.social, @jamestalarico.bsky.social, @friendlyatheist.com.web.brid.gy, @fiona-ndre.bsky.social, @fiona-murphy.bsky.social, @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social, @revdrmichaelwoolf.bsky.social, & more!

Reminder that immigration detention is administrative, not criminal.

How faith networks are building a safety net for immigrants released from detention With fewer asylum-seekers arriving in U.S. cities, faith-based support networks are caring for immigrants after they’re released from stints in detention centers — a time when many lose housing and jo...

religionnews.com/2026/02/19/i... @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social @jackjenkins.me

How faith networks are building a safety net for immigrants released from detention With fewer asylum-seekers arriving in U.S. cities, faith-based support networks are caring for immigrants after they’re released from stints in detention centers — a time when many lose housing and jo...

Via @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social and myself: How faith networks are building a safety net for immigrants released from detention.

This includes some reporting from my visit to a church that has been housing immigrants, including at least six children. religionnews.com/2026/02/19/i...

Cardinal Tobin celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass for detainees in Newark ICE facility NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) — The Newark bishops are the only confirmed U.S. bishops who plan to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass in an ICE detention facility.

NEW via @fiona-ndre.bsky.social, @fiona-murphy.bsky.social and @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social: Cardinal Tobin celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass for detainees in Newark ICE facility (note: this is NJ, not in IL, where there are disputes about allowing this to happen) —> religionnews.com/2026/02/18/c...

Cardinal Tobin celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass for detainees in Newark ICE facility NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) — The Newark bishops are the only confirmed U.S. bishops who plan to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass in an ICE detention facility.

religionnews.com/2026/02/18/c... @fiona-ndre.bsky.social @fiona-murphy.bsky.social @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social

Can corroborate @sojo.net here: CSPL has also told me they have yet to hear from DHS about clergy being granted access to the Broadview ICE facility.

A federal court order issued last week requires them not only to allow clergy in, but to work to CSPL to do so. religionnews.com/2026/02/13/j...

Judge orders ICE to allow Catholics access to Chicago-area detention center The plaintiff group — the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership — has announced that Cardinal Blase Cupich will be joining them for Ash Wednesday Mass.

religionnews.com/2026/02/13/j... @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social

Judge orders ICE to allow Catholics access to Chicago-area detention center (RNS) — The plaintiff group — the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership — has announced that Cardinal Blase Cupich will be joining them for Ash Wednesday Mass.

Via @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social: Judge orders ICE to allow Catholics access to Chicago-area detention center —> religionnews.com/2026/02/13/j...

It’s fair that I could have read the lawsuit before posting. But it’s not understandable to me why a journalist who read the lawsuit and then wrote an article would leave out the fact that it alleges people were sorted by skin color.

That’s helpful info. It’s disappointing the journalist didn’t include that in their article.