WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Emotions were high as dozens of people gathered at an interfaith vigil held by Wisconsin faith leaders in Milwaukee City Hall Monday night.

Dozens of people gathered, holding candles and signs, speaking out against overly aggressive immigration enforcement they say is tearing families apart.

"We don’t know when, but we are probably pretty certain that ICE will increase its activity in Southeastern Wisconsin," said Rev. Paul Erickson, bishop at the Greater Milwaukee Synod ELCA. "We need to build relationships and make sure our community ties are strong and lasting and focused on building up our neighbor."

The interfaith vigil started off mourning both Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were both recently killed by federal agents in Minneapolis.

"Both tragically have lost their lives over the last three weeks," said Darryl Morin, the national president of Forward Latino. "Lost their lives prematurely to gunfire from federal immigration enforcement officials."

ICE says the operations in Minnesota are targeting criminals. Local pastors say they are attacks that are causing a chain reaction of fear across the country, including Pastor Jessica Short's congregation in Germantown.

"They are afraid to take their kids to school, they are afraid to go to doctors' appointments, and I would tell them that they are not alone," said Pastor Short, with the Lutheran Church of the Living Christ.

Pastor Short says she and others know many people who are directly impacted.

"It just hits close to home and then it gets closer to home," said Pastor Short. "We know that people here are afraid and waiting and scared."

The local faith leaders are calling on the community to stand together and build communities of resistance and love.

It's something the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression put into action Monday night.

"Going around, the barrio, the neighborhood, talking to folks about their rights, about how to identify ICE or immigration enforcement officials and what they can do to keep themselves and their community members safe," said Julie Velazquez with the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression.

Several faith leaders spoke, and their advice to everyone gathered was to get involved and take action in any way you can.