In a Metuchen church built to hold 500 people, it was standing-room only on Sunday, as people linked arms, bowed their heads and prayed for mercy for their "brother," "friend," and fellow congregation member, Roby Sanger, and his family.

Sanger, of Metuchen, was one of two undocumented Indonesian immigrants detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week. Sanger, and Gunawan Liem, of Franklin Park, were each expected to check in with immigration agents next month but were picked up by ICE as they dropped their children off for school.

Hundreds of Metuchen residents and advocates gathered at the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen on Sunday, before walking to the town's borough hall to pledge their support for the families who have been affected.

The rally comes days after Gov. Phil Murphy denounced the Trump Administration's crackdown on the immigrant community of Indonesian Christians, who came to the U.S. to flee religious persecution.

These actions against Sanger and Liem are the latest to rattle the immigrant rights community under the Trump Administration, which has vowed to crack down on those in the country illegally.

Sanger's family members joined in the walk and one of his own daughters appeared at the beginning of the rally and read a statement prepared by State Sen. Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., D-18th Dist.

In a fiery speech that fired up the crowd, U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., said America was built by ancestors who have "made this country great," and quoted the words that appear on the Statue of Liberty.

“My ancestors were brought here. Your ancestors may have come here. But together, our ancestors made this country great.” —@RepBonnie pic.twitter.com/BMv6rmAKYX — Sara Jerde (@SaraJerde) January 28, 2018

"We may have lost our way in the White House and in Congress, which is controlled by the Republicans," Watson Coleman said. "But we the people of this country, this country of, by and for the people -- we will not tolerate it. And we'll continue to show up."

At the rally, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-6th Dist., again called for a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants that are estimated to be living in the United States.

A third man in New Jersey, Harry Pangemanan, is seeking sanctuary at the Reformed Church of Highland Park to avoid deportation.

The church increased its security on Sunday and a Highland Park police officer was stationed inside while a Highland Park police car could be seen circling the building.

The church's Pastor, Seth Kaper-Dale, said the homes of Pangemanan and another immigrant seeking sanctuary were ransacked this weekend, with cash and gold taken from each. Kaper-Dale suggested ICE could be behind the incidents though the agency has denied any involvement.

"We don't know what caused this -- or who went and ransacked these homes, but it doesn't surprise me with all this anti-immigration fever that something like this would happen," Pallone said.

The group of supporters Sunday carried signs that read, "Stop deporting dads," "humans aren't illegal," and "Hey ICE my school is not a tool."

As they walked, they chanted, "No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here," "this is what democracy looks like," and "this is what community looks like" as they made the walk through the town's center.

The clouds kept the day overcast but without rain for the group's entire march to borough hall. As the rally came to an end, the group again locked arms, sang and the clouds rained down a drizzle.

The rally ended in a prayer and song: pic.twitter.com/JUxIGxWKHn — Sara Jerde (@SaraJerde) January 28, 2018

Metuchen Mayor Jonathan Busch said if the arrests had to happen to wake the community up, "so be it."

"We're woken up now and we're going to do something about it," Busch said.

Staff writers Karen Yi and Ed Murray contributed to this report.

Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter

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