Story by Jean Gonzalez
About 50 people gathered on Good Friday, April 3, 2026, near Baker Correctional Institution in Sanderson for a prayerful public witness in solidarity with immigrants detained inside the facility, referred to by participants as “Deportation Depot.” The event, centered on a Stations of the Cross reflection, drew people of various faith traditions who sought to connect Christ’s suffering with the experiences of those facing detention and deportation.
Standing initially on state land across from the prison, participants could barely see beyond the barbed wire fencing. Still, they began their reflection, offering prayers and meditations that linked the Passion of Christ with the hardships endured by immigrants. The group then walked roughly three-quarters of a mile along Highway 90, continuing their prayers and songs, hoping their presence might be sensed by those inside.
At one point during the walk, participants heard a response from within the facility — a steady stream of loud whistling from detainees. Though the individuals remained unseen, the sound created a powerful moment of connection. Many in the group responded with visible emotion, waving, shouting messages of encouragement in English and Spanish, and offering prayers through a megaphone.
Clara Sowers, one of the event’s coordinators, described the moment as deeply moving. She said the connection reinforced the purpose of the gathering — to remind detainees they are not forgotten and to stand with them in their suffering. The timing of the event on Good Friday added spiritual significance, as participants reflected on Christ’s Passion while accompanying those they believe are enduring hardship today.
Organizer John Frank, a member of Pax Christi Florida, emphasized that the gathering was not intended as a protest but as a prayerful witness. Inspired in part by the ministry of Father Frank O’Laughlin and Pope Francis’ call to encounter migrants personally, Frank helped form the Micah Project of Northeast Florida. The initiative takes its name from Micah 6:8, calling people to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. The Good Friday event marked the project’s first public action.
The gathering brought together participants from several organizations and communities, including Pax Christi, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, the Florida Council of Churches, and local congregations such as St. John’s Lutheran Church and St. Philip Neri Ecumenical Church. Catholics from multiple parishes, including members of Hispanic and Vietnamese ministries, also participated.
For Pierre Uwimana, a refugee coordinator with the Florida Immigrant Coalition and a Rwandan immigrant, the event carried personal meaning. Having navigated the U.S. immigration system himself, he said his experience compels him to advocate for others facing similar challenges. He emphasized the contributions immigrants make to society and expressed hope for more compassionate approaches to immigration, including clearer pathways to citizenship.
As the group concluded its walk, participants expressed hope that their presence — and the unexpected exchange of whistles — offered encouragement to those inside. For many, the encounter underscored the purpose of the day: to stand in solidarity, to pray, and to bear witness to human dignity, even across barriers that could not be crossed.
To read the full story filed by Jean Gonzalez of the Florida Catholic, click here.
