Filed Date: Nov. 19, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
[This summary is temporary while we research the case.]
On November 19, 2025, Plaintiffs brought suit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Justice, and President Trump over an alleged violation of Plaintiffs’ rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (“RFRA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb, et seq., and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc, et seq. Plaintiffs allege that on October 11, 2025, the Plaintiffs gathered with 1,000 Catholics and faith community members at St. Eulalia Parish in Maywood, Illinois, before the start of their Eucharistic Procession to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) facility in neighboring Broadview, Illinois. After the ICE Broadview facility was established in 2006, one of the members of CSPL, Sr. JoAnn Persch, for ten years, came every week to Broadview, usually at 4:00 a.m., and by permission of ICE entered and prayed with the detainees. Beginning in 2010, ICE permitted these regular visits, and there were never any safety or security concerns. On October 11, 2025, when the Plaintiffs reached the facility’s gates, they asked the Illinois State Police (“ISP”) officers stationed outside the facility to relay the request to ICE personnel at the facility, but upon returning, the officers informed the Plaintiffs that access to the facility to pray and give Holy Communion was denied.
On December 5, 2025, plaintiffs moved for a preliminary injunction to restore immediate access for prayer, pastoral care, and the distribution of Communion. Plaintiffs assert that such restriction constitutes religious discrimination without cause in violation of the 1st amendment and risks irreparable harm to both clergy and detainees by way of immense spiritual deprivation.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Calvin OConnell (1/15/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71934446/parties/coalition-for-spiritual-and-public-leadership-v-noem/
Dahlstrom, Patrick V. (Illinois)
Geoghegan, Thomas Howard (Illinois)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71934446/coalition-for-spiritual-and-public-leadership-v-noem/
Last updated Jan. 17, 2026, 12:35 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 19, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership--a faith-based non-profit organization.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Religious Freedom Rest. Act/Religious Land Use and Inst. Persons Act (RFRA/RLUIPA)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Northern District of Illinois 1:25-cv-14168
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Basis: