Christian Family Resists ICE Raids Across Chicago Suburbs
The Luhmann family, led by conservative Christians Audrey and Andrew Luhmann, has become deeply involved in a faith-fueled resistance to ICE raids opposing Operation Midway Blitz, a federal deportation campaign in Chicago. Their teenage sons, Ben and Sam, have emerged as key figures in a grassroots network tracking ICE vehicles and alerting immigrant communities. The family believes their Christian faith compels them to defend marginalized immigrants, making their activism a personal and spiritual mission. Their home has become a hub of coordination, with quilts symbolizing Jesus on the walls and Signal chats buzzing throughout the day. They say silence in the face of injustice isn’t an option.
Teens Monitor ICE to Warn Communities
Ben and Sam Luhmann, 17 and 16, rise early to patrol neighborhoods, watching for unmarked ICE vehicles. Their goal is to film and document federal activity and warn residents using whistles and group chats. Their efforts intensified after viral TikTok videos showed them confronting federal agents. Though they’ve been briefly detained and harassed, they continue their work undeterred. Their faith motivates them, but Sam also sees the cause as universally moral, regardless of religion. The teens work with hundreds of volunteers across encrypted platforms, coordinating movements and tracking ICE with near-military precision.
Churches and Communities Mobilize
Faith groups — even conservative ones — have joined the resistance, aiding families affected by the raids. Audrey Luhmann, with help from her Anglican church, coordinates supply drives and grocery deliveries for immigrants too afraid to leave home. She recently assisted Denisse, a pregnant cancer patient whose partner was deported. As churches share information and resources via encrypted messaging apps, many see their faith as the reason to stand up against what they call government cruelty. Audrey’s group of 80 church members now helps hundreds of families weekly.
ICE Pushback and Safety Concerns
Federal agencies have criticized rapid-response networks like the one the Luhmanns participate in, claiming they interfere with arrests of “dangerous criminal illegal aliens.” Activists counter that monitoring law enforcement is legal and necessary. ICE has even deployed decoy vehicles to mislead volunteers. Audrey worries about her sons’ safety and the emotional toll this advocacy takes on their family. Yet, she says her faith leaves no room for apathy. She believes that documenting injustice — even at risk — is a moral obligation rooted in Christian teachings.
Faith-Driven Resistance Expands Beyond Chicago
The Luhmanns’ activism has inspired similar efforts in cities like Charlotte, North Carolina. Trainings and church-led watch programs are spreading, reflecting growing frustration with mass deportation tactics. While some churches remain silent, others have stepped up to help both spiritually and practically. For Audrey, activism is an act of witness — both to her children and her faith. She hopes that one day, when asked what they did during this moment, her children will remember that their family chose to act with courage and conviction.
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How one conservative Christian family is pushing back against ICE
Photo by Chris Yang on Unsplash
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