Fear, faith and preparation as ICE closes in on Springfield, Ohio

Faith-based coalitions are creating emergency hubs to care for children — and churches are preparing for their sanctuaries to be breached.

BY: AMANDA BECKER, THE 19TH NEWS-JANUARY 30, 2026 5:00 AM

SPRINGFIELD — Church-supervised hubs to house and care for children separated from their parents. Phone chains to activate citizen networks if federal immigration agents are spotted in the community. Volunteers to deliver food to hungry neighbors from their own cars instead of food pantry trucks. …