DETROIT -- Faith leaders of six Metro Detroit congregations on Tuesday said they planned to act as "front lines of protection" against an apparent expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcements raids.

They said in a Tuesday press conference at Central United Methodist Church in Detroit that they would provide "sanctuary for endangered immigrant families" in various ways, including in some cases housing families at risk of deportation.

"We believe that breaking families apart is wrong," said the Rev. Jill Zundell, pastor of Central United Methodist Church. "We will give comfort to the afflicted and shelter to those who suffer. No one will live in fear while under the protection of our church."

Zundell, who is currently housing a family from Africa in the Central United Methodist Church building, said her message to President Donald Trump is: "If you want these families, you're going to have to come through us."

The family she's housing is of a husband, wife and four children over the age seven who are seeking political asylum. The family hoped to go to Canada, but were stopped at the border, she said.

The children's father was murdered for speaking against their government in Africa, Zundell said, and the wife was thrown out of a second floor window but was recently released from a hospital.

Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders took part in the announcement, complaining of more frequent ICE raids, an overall rise in hate crimes and xenophobia.

"Immigrant families are being treated by the government with hostility," said Rev. Paul Perez.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said last month that Trump has sought to "take the shackles off" federal agents in the enforcement of immigration law.

"The president needed to give guidance," he said, "especially after what they went through in the last administration, where there were so many carve-outs that ICE agents and CBP members had to figure out each individual whether or not they fit in a particular category and they could adjudicate that case. The President wanted to take the shackles off individuals in these agencies and say: 'You have a mission, there are laws that need to be followed; you should do your mission and follow the law.'"

The Birmingham Temple for Jewish Humanism in Farmington Hills was another religious center offering sanctuary.

"We have a choice in this country," said Rabbi Jeff Falick, "and we as secular humanistic Jews understand what happens to people who make the wrong choice. So I stand here today not only for my congregation but for millions of Jews who were left abandoned and whose legacy to us, whose lesson to us must be that we cannot abandon others at their time of need."

Sanctuary has a long history in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths, said Zundell, who added "our spiritual ancestors knew what it was like to be on the run as refugees."

"These dreadful policies are against the spirit of America's most sacred beliefs and cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged," said Imam Mohamed Almasmari of the Michigan Muslim Community Council. "Moreover, the attacks on immigrants and refugees, Muslims, and recent violence against the Jewish community all branch from the same hateful root. We support sanctuary both to help families but also to stand up for America we believe in: strong, vibrant, multi-cultural democracy where everyone has the opportunity to flourish."

A march form Southwest Detroit to Dearborn, meant to bridge the Hispanic and Arab-American communities is planned April 2, starting 3:30 p.m. at St. Gabriel Church on Vernor Highway.

The group listed as "declared sanctuaries in Michigan: Central United Methodist Church in Detroit, First United Methodist Church in Ferndale, Birmingham Temple for Humanistic Judaism in Farmington Hhills, First Congregational Church in Kalamazoo and Sunny6side United Methodist Church in Portage.