MERIDIAN — Faith leaders will join community members Thursday outside Meridian City Hall in a prayer vigil focused on immigration reform.

Attendees will specifically pray about protection for immigrant families and that President Obama and members of Congress enact humane immigration reform, Fernando Mejia of Idaho Community Action Network said.

"Whatever Congress decides to bring to the table, we want them to talk about family values, which includes reuniting families and reducing the backlog so it's easier for people to go back to their home and reunite," Mejia said.

Ed Keener, former pastor of the United Church of Christ, and other community leaders will reflect on their concern with the direction the country is moving on immigration and on the potential for faith leaders to be a force of renewal and reconciliation.

The vigil is part of a nationwide movement called "Prayer, Renewal and Action on Immigration." The movement, which exists in more than a dozen cities, highlights the growing movement of faith communities focusing on immigration, Mejia said.  

"Immigrant families and workers are living in a state of fear, constantly worrying about the next raid that would rip parents and children apart, or how the increasing anti-immigrant sentiment will impact their families. Now is the time to restore dignity and respect to all families and communities," Mejia said in a prepared statement.

Many immigrants are pushed to leave their homelands because of economic desperation, Mejia said.