Advocacy Groups Host Interfaith Vigil for Immigrants

Local community members gathered at Payne Chapel AME Church to support individuals currently in ICE custody.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Islam

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a geometric window silhouette, evoking the somber, institutional atmosphere of a community vigil for immigrants. — Advocacy groups in Hamilton held an interfaith vigil this week to oppose the Butler County Jail's current federal immigration detention contract. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Advocacy groups hosted an interfaith vigil at Payne Chapel AME Church in Hamilton to raise awareness for immigrants in ICE custody. Former detainee Imam Ayman Soliman shared his personal experience regarding his recent time spent in the Butler County Jail.

Why it matters

Advocacy organizations held the event to oppose the Butler County Jail's 287(g) contract with ICE. Participants emphasize that their efforts to support vulnerable populations are rooted in their commitment to religious commandments of justice.

Imam Ayman Soliman was held at the Butler County Jail for 73 days before eventually regaining his asylum status. He arrived in the United States from Egypt in 2014 and initially received asylum in 2018.

The players

Ayman Soliman

An imam who works with the hospice team at TriHealth and was previously detained at the Butler County Jail.

Payne Chapel AME Church

A local religious institution in Hamilton, Ohio, that served as the host site for the interfaith vigil.

Butler County for Immigrant Justice

A community advocacy group that organizes protests and meetings to address county contracts with ICE.

The details

Local groups including Butler County for Immigrant Justice, Oxford Citizens for Peace & Justice, and the Coalition of Concerned Citizens organized the interfaith gathering. These organizations frequently coordinate protests and attend county commission meetings to advocate for the termination of the local jail's federal immigration detention contract.

Ayman Soliman arrived in the United States from Egypt in 2014.
Soliman was granted asylum in 2018.
Soliman's asylum status was revoked in June 2025.
Soliman was detained at the Butler County Jail in July 2025.
The interfaith vigil took place in October 2026.

Culture Shift

The vigil reflects a growing trend of interfaith coalitions challenging the 287(g) contract program on moral and religious grounds. This movement represents a broader societal push to re-examine the role of local institutions in the enforcement of federal immigration policies.

Residents in the area can expect continued advocacy efforts and potential shifts in local government meetings as these groups pressure the Butler County Commission. These activities may result in increased community discourse regarding the county jail's immigration policies.

The takeaway

The vigil highlights how personal experiences of detention are fueling organized local activism against specific immigration contracts. Implementing these types of community dialogues helps increase public awareness regarding the intersection of religious faith and civic policy advocacy.