Interfaith Leaders Complete 96-Mile California Pilgrimage to Protest Immigration Detention Policies
A diverse group of interfaith leaders walked 96 miles through California in early October to protest immigration detention policies. Organizers drew parallels to the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches, calling the action a pilgrimage of witness and solidarity.
A group of interfaith leaders completed a 96-mile pilgrimage through California in early October 2026, walking to protest what they called cruel immigration policies and the use of detention centers.
Organizers described the march as a "pilgrimage of witness and solidarity." Participants drew explicit parallels to the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches and the historic labor pilgrimages of farmworkers in California.
The group included leaders from multiple religious traditions. Black faith leaders were among the most vocal participants, connecting the march to a longer history of faith-based civil rights activism.
Marchers called for an end to what they described as inhumane conditions in immigration detention facilities and for a more just approach to immigration enforcement. Several participants said they were motivated by stories from their own congregations, including families separated by deportations and individuals detained without clear legal process.
The pilgrimage ended with a rally where faith leaders called on elected officials to take action before the November 2026 midterm elections.
Immigration has become one of the central issues driving faith-based organizing this fall, with Black churches, Catholic parishes, and other congregations coordinating voter mobilization and advocacy efforts across the country.
