Religious leaders from Erie County gathered outside of the Erie Federal Courthouse on Friday, to voice their discontent with President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration.

"It's going to devastate families," said Sister Jacqueline Sanchez-Small with the Benedictines for Peace. "It's also going to weaken our entire country, which is built on the hard work of immigrants who do the jobs most of us would be unwilling to do."

President Trump's policies have led to U.S. Immigration and Custom (ICE) raids throughout the country and have paused the resettlement of thousands of refugees already approved to resettle in the United States.

"I think it's tearing people apart," said The Very Reverend Melinda Hall, Dean of the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Paul. "I think children will be left without parents and families will be broken, and the economics of that will be destructive for people's lives."

The rally comes just one week after attorney Alexandria Iwanenko confirmed that ICE has been conducting operations in Erie.

However, according to Iwanenko, the most significant impact has been on Erie's three resettlement agencies.

"The executive order that stops resettlement for 90 days has directly impacted them, because they can't do airport pickups, they can't welcome refugees, they had staff whose jobs were refugee case management," said Iwanenko. "With the refugees no longer being allowed to enter, that has impacted them."

Religious leaders are calling on lawmakers to take action.

"I hope to see hearts change," said Sister Sanchez-Small. "I hope to see an increase in love and inclusion."