Chicago Priest Crosses Mexican Border Illegally To Highlight Immigration Reform

CHICAGO (CBS) — A week before Chicago is likely to see major May Day immigration rights protests, a local priest entered the country illegally to spark a conversation about reform.

Fr. Gary Graf, of St. Gall Catholic Church on the Southwest Side first spent a couple of days in Mexico before hopping a border fence.

Afterwards, the priest turned himself into the Santa Cruz (AZ) Sheriff’s Office and apologized, thanked the officers, and asked for help.

He said humility and gratitude is the way to achieve change – not big May Day protests.

Graf said those just end up making people angry, and don’t achieve the outreach needed to get reforms passed in Washington.