Religious leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area hosted a vigil Saturday in opposition of the reported immigration raids authorized by the Obama administration.
The raids, according to protesters, will unfairly and harshly target men, women and children who fled from violence in Central America.
Community members stood alongside faith leaders and held signs and banners outside the West County Detention Facility in Richmond Saturday morning.
According to a news release, the protesters believe that raids would target "traumatized families whose cases were rushed through an unjust, conveyer belt-style process, often without legal counsel, basic information about their rights, or adequate information about the hearing schedule."
Rev. Deborah Lee, who was at the vigil, said they would pray President Barack Obama would "reject the path of coldness and cruelty" and allow families who pose no threat to stay in the country.
The Department of Homeland Security has already begun preparation for the raids, The Washington Post reported.
The campaign will be carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs agents as early as January.
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However, the operation will focus only those people whose deportation has already been ordered by a judge, the Post reported.
