PHILADELPHIA — Nearly a dozen immigration activists were arrested at the ICE garage in Center City on Monday morning after attempting to block vehicles from leaving the agency headquarters.

It marked another in what has become an ongoing series of protests against ICE operations in the city and region.

This action began shortly after 8 a.m., on the south side of Cherry Street, where vehicles exit near Eighth Street, as about a dozen clergy members moved into an area marked as restricted.

Philadelphia police watched from nearby, as an additional 20 or more protesters wrapped up a demonstration in which they shouted slogans and blew whistles outside the agency’s front doors. Clergy members from several Philadelphia churches prayed and sang “We Shall Not Be Moved” before taking up their positions outside the big metal garage doors.

Shortly after 9 a.m., a Homeland Security officer issued a first and second warning to clergy members to clear the area. A third and final warning soon followed.

No one moved from the line of clergy.

“Praise God for your courage!” someone called out.

“I am not afraid,” the religious leaders sang back.

Around 9:30 a.m., Homeland Security officers began forcibly pushing clergy away from the garage doors and into the street.

They did not appear injured and soon regrouped, sitting in a line on sidewalk, a distance from the garage but still in the paths of any exiting vehicles. Group leaders said later that several religious leaders suffered bruises.

By 9:45 a.m., officers began taking protesters into custody. They handcuffed clergy members, binding their hands with zip ties and moving them inside the large ICE garage. The sound of protesters’ singing was heard behind the garage door after it closed.

Protest leaders said nine religious leaders and one No ICE Philly demonstrator were arrested by Homeland Security officers. They were released after being charged by federal authorities with obstructing access to the garage. That offense falls under federal rules that govern security infrastructure.

They were issued violation notices that required them to pay $530 in penalties and fees or appear in federal court to dispute the charges.

The action came as No ICE Philly and allied pro-immigrant groups launched “A Week of Action Against ICE and Collaborators,” seeking to bring attention to ongoing immigration arrests and to call on people and institutions to protect city residents. The week was designed to coincide with Holy Week and the start of Passover.

“We want the migrants coming in and out of this building to know that we stand with them, and God stands with them,” said Jonny Rashid, a pastor of the West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship who is active in No ICE Philly, the organizer. “We want the public to see that their clergy and their communities know what ICE is doing is wrong.”

No agency vehicles attempted to leave the garage or were stopped from doing so during the protest. Efforts to block ICE vehicles from departing have begun to occur more regularly.

“As Christians, we stand on the side of resurrection ad against the system of kidnapping, detention, deportation, and death,” said the Rev. Matthew Arlyck, a minister at First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. “Blocking ICE vehicles is an act of faith in God, and an act of prayer for all God’s children to be treated with dignity and respect.”

A similar protest took place in January, when a group of clergy and immigration advocates locked arms in front of the parking bay. One vehicle was able to leave, with the help of Philadelphia police.

In October, a demonstration outside the ICE office erupted into physical confrontations with police, as several people were pushed to the ground and four were arrested.

The four were later released after being given citations for obstruction of highway, a violation that typically results in a fine.

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