Organizers of the vigil from American Friends Service Committee and The Center for Service Learning at Regis University

On a bitterly cold evening in February, a crowd gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in northwest Aurora, just a few days after immigration raids were carried out in Denver and Aurora.

People gathered to bring cards, to sing, and to listen to the stories of people inside the facility, operated by The GEO Group Inc. The “Love Knows No Borders! No Walls! event was held near Valentine’s Day — an annual tradition.

Retired teacher Theresa Cramer was at the vigil with her husband, Doug. She says she was impacted by the raids and the fear caused to kids and families.

“I’m just very concerned about our immigrant neighbors,” Cramer said, “and was just devastated last week after the ICE raids, and heard about the effects on a school community next to the Cedar Run apartments. The parents called frantic and begged the teachers not to send the kids home until it was all over. Teachers stayed with those kids until like 5:30 in the afternoon.”

Retired teacher Theresa Cramer was at the vigil with her husband, Doug.

Cramer has been to vigils at the Aurora ICE Processing Center before. She and others say they want ICE to be disbanded.

“I don’t want my tax dollars funding it, and they are inhumane and treat people horribly,” she said. “And we’ve heard testimony of people who have been in this facility and innocently arrested and end up there and their how their human rights are violated, and so that’s why we’re here.”

Rachel has been involved with grassroots efforts like these for the past three years. She says she believes in the power of numbers and wasn’t deterred by the winter weather.

“If they can be inside, I can be out here for an hour,” she says. “These are our neighbors, and if we can have a voice, and if that’s all that’s left, which it seems like, then, we’ll have [a voice].”

People at the vigil were represented by the American Friends Service Committee and the Center for Service Learning at Regis University, a program that puts students at the center of service projects, giving them the space to act upon the issues that are most important to them.

Ashley Garcia Torres, a student, spoke to the crowd. “I really appreciate everyone being out here tonight as someone who has been affected by the separation of migration. I witnessed my father get arrested when I was in the sixth grade. It really means a lot to me to to know there’s so many people who have not just cared, but are willing to spend time in the freezing cold together.”

The crowd spilled over the sidewalk at the location at 3130 N. Oakland St., Aurora, not far from the Peoria RTD Station, singing along with the group No Enemies. A favorite song of a woman being held inside the detention center was sung as her husband held up his phone so she could hear.

The organizations involved in the vigil are all welcoming people to join them for future events, as are the organizations who are doing everyday work to support the immigrant community. Click here to access the Front Porch web page for volunteer opportunities.

No Enemies welcomes singers of any level to their next event on Sunday, March 2, from 2 pm to 3 pm at Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church, 1100 Fillmore St., Denver.

Front Porch photos by Christie Gosch