A growing number of Philadelphia-based faith groups are teaming up to man an emergency hot-line to help undocumented immigrants who find themselves the target of deportation raids.

The newly launched "Sanctuary in the Streets" named coalition is in response to a renewed government effort aimed at forcibly removing people from the country that are deemed here illegally.

The congregations involved plan to form teams of volunteers that will be responsible for quickly responding to hot-line calls for help by rushing to the scene of a raid and holding a prayer vigil with the family while filming the event.

Coalition Hopes Calling Attention to Situation Will Help end Raids

"The goal is to be in solidarity for the families being raided, and shine a light on what ICE is doing and apply pressure to encourage them to stop doing raids," said Peter Pedemonti, a Philadelphia representative.

Pedemonti later added, "We believe that the teachings from our faith traditions aren't just suggestions, they're really serious calls about how we should live our life. To be a good neighbor, you need to be active with people who are being terrorized, persecuted, and enduring injustice. If someone in our city has armed police showing up at their door to drag away a family member because they don't have their papers ... as people of faith we need to be there."

The raids have become a bone of contention between immigration activists and the Obama administration, which supports immigration reform but continues to deport some.

Hotline Will Operate for Foreseeable Future

Earlier this month, about a dozen activists dramatically interrupted a speech being delivered by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, shouting "education, not deportation" and "stop the raids."

Johnson later insisted he believes all the protesters on the issue deserve to have their voices heard.

According to Pedemonti, the group will keep the hot-line running for at least several months, indicating that they will reevaluate the program's effectiveness after gauging the new series of raids.

"There is a rising movement of people of faith calling on ICE for moral accountability," he said. "I think that voice is getting stronger and stronger."

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