(Image source from: The Financial Express)

Hundreds of people gathered outside the federal prison in Sheridan on Sunday for an interfaith prayer where 52 Indians are among those detained for alleged illegal entry into the United States.

As 'zero tolerance' policy initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump proceeds, undocumented immigrants are facing a hard-bitten condition and protests are intensifying across the country.

Religious songs of Waheguru and the 'Lord's Prayer' blended as Sikhs from neighboring towns joined members of various local communities.

They invoked divinity to change the course of the Trump administration, in a combination of worship and protest, on a high ground between the barbed barrier and a still lake.  

"In ancient Egypt when Pharaoh made it public policy to kill Hebrew children, child murder became the law of the land. But people of faith knew better. They knew…" the pastor said, pausing later in a call to worship.

"Only love fulfills the law," the congregation responded. "When Jesus was crucified, he was executed as a criminal, as an illegal, as an enemy of the state," the pastor said.

"You who are the home of the homeless, you who are the strength of the weak…we pray before you, please invoke compassion in the hearts of authorities…"Satpawan Kaur said in the Sikh invocation.

A langar or community kitchen was hosted by the Sikh community after the prayer. People from aggregate cultural groups appeared to thoroughly relish an Indian meal.

Singh, likewise chairman of Ghadar Memorial Foundation, said no one, either from the local community or from the legal society, has been permitted to meet the detainees. "Unless someone meets them and gets details about their background, one cannot explore the options," Singh said.

"We could see some of the detainees inside the compound, who evidently appeared to be Sikhs, though they were not wearing the turban," said Amrit Singh, who was among the protesters.

By Sowmya Sangam