Public Witness for Immigrant Justice Vigil, March and Rally Set For February 25th in Washington, D.C.
The Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice ecumenical and interfaith event encourages people of faith to join for a day of worship, prayer, and peaceful advocacy calling for the humane treatment of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. 1,200 participants have registered to attend the in-person event.
United Methodist Communications Office of Public Relations
For Immediate Release February 18, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — United Methodists and faith partners from across the country will gather in the nation’s capital on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, for Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice.
For those who cannot attend in person, register for the livestream.
The event will begin at 10:00 am ET with a prayer vigil and worship service at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church (421 Seward Square SE) where they will pray for immigrants suffering in the U.S. due to unjust treatment, for those who courageously stand with them, and for God’s blessing for this and every effort that seeks justice for immigrants.
At 11:00 am ET, participants will take part in a prayerful procession past the Supreme Court Building and the U.S. Capitol, to the Upper Senate Park where Faithful Resistance leaders will lift up their voices to call upon the Trump Administration and Congress to treat immigrants humanely with compassion and justice, extending to them their right to due process under U.S. law and immigration policy.
The afternoon will include congressional visits. Registered participants who opted to advocate directly with lawmakers will have time to engage in meaningful and respectful dialogue.
Faithful Resistance arose out of the work of the United Methodist Immigration Task Force (UMITF), a collaborative body of representatives from United Methodist agencies, the Council of Bishops, and racial ethnic plans and caucuses called upon by the General Conference to help guide a unified UMC effort to welcome and serve the immigrant among us.
Partnerships prayerfully cultivated over 20 years of work brought others to the table. Organizing and participating agencies and entities within The United Methodist Church include the United Methodist Immigration Task Force, the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR), El Plan Hispano/Latino, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Women United in Faith, Immigration Law & Justice Network and others supporting their work behind the scenes.
Key ecumenical, interfaith and advocacy leaders partnering in planning and implementing the day’s activities include the Pan-Methodist Commission, Interfaith Immigration Coalition, Church World Service, Latino Christian National Network, National Day Laborer Organizing Network, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration.
Together, they will offer a peaceful public witness grounded in prayerful worship, moral courage, and solidarity with immigrant communities. “We originally anticipated approximately 120 people to attend in-person, but to see us at ten-fold is so encouraging; a sign of what with God’s help we can do together as we stand for immigrant justice.” says Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, Convenor of the UMITF.
“Though we have reached capacity for safe gathering, we know that others have a desire to also participate.”
On behalf of our organizing faith and justice partners, we encourage others to host local livestream viewing and prayer gatherings at their locations across the United States on February 25th.
Participant safety is a top priority. Organizers are working with the United States Capitol Police and The Metropolitan Police Department to ensure proper permitting and an orderly, peaceful event. Legal observers and trained marshals and peacemakers will also be present.
The event is rain or shine, and overflow worship locations will accommodate all registered attendees.
For more information, updates, ideas on hosting a livestream viewing gathering, and for livestream information as it is made available, visit https://faithfulresistance.org/.
Media Contact
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UMC RELATED IMMIGRATION RESOURCES
Church and Society Immigration Justice Resources
