Some Chicago-area religious workers are celebrating a victory. They’ve been fighting for more than two years for access to immigrants in a federal detention center in west suburban Broadview.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it’s allowing the clergy members to pray with immigrants on vans and buses outside the detention center. That’s before the vehicles take the immigrants away to be deported. Here’s Sister JoAnn Persch.

PERSCH: It’s one of the most traumatic days of their life, when they’re being torn apart from their family. We can tell them there are people with them in spirit.

Next the religious workers want to be able to visit detainees inside the Broadview center. For that access, they’re vowing civil disobedience there next month.

A statement from ICE says the agency already ensures its detainees can receive spiritual guidance. ICE pledges to keep a dialogue with the clergy members open.

In another victory for the religious workers, an Illinois law set to take effect in June expands their access to immigrants held for ICE in county jails.