Over 20 religious organizations in the United States have filed a lawsuit against the administration of Donald Trump due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests taking place in churches. The lawsuit, representing millions of American Christians and Jews, claims that permitting ICE officers to conduct arrests in places of worship instills fear and has reduced church attendance. As a consequence, it infringes on religious freedom, particularly impacting these groups' ability to minister to migrants.
The Most Reverend Sean Rowe, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, highlighted that their congregations include immigrants, refugees, and both documented and undocumented individuals. "We cannot pray freely if some among us live in fear. By joining this lawsuit, we seek the ability to gather and fully practice our faith, following Jesus' commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves," Rowe stated to the Associated Press.
The lawsuit has been filed in the District Court in Washington, targeting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its immigration agencies. Among the plaintiffs are the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with over 3,000 congregations, the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas encompassing around 1,100 Hispanic Baptist churches, the Friends General Conference, a coalition of regional Quaker organizations, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism with over 500 congregations, and regional branches of the United Methodist Church.
Kelsi Corkran, a lawyer at the Center for Constitutional Litigation and Protection at Georgetown University, commented on the lawsuit's significance, suggesting that its magnitude will be hard to ignore. Corkran noted that immigration agents previously required a warrant or special authorization to operate in places of worship and other "sensitive" areas such as schools and hospitals. "Now they can go anywhere, at any time. They have broad authority to act swiftly," she asserted.
Despite the lawsuit's extensive representation, several conservative religious leaders support the current arrest policy. Mat Staver, founder of the conservative Christian legal organization Liberty Counsel, argues that places of worship are meant for prayer, not as sanctuaries for harboring individuals involved in illegal activities. "Fugitives or criminals are not immune to the law simply because they enter a place of worship. This is not about religious freedom. There is no right to openly violate the law and disregard law enforcement," he stated.
In January, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman announced the reversal of Biden-era guidelines on immigration enforcement in "sensitive" areas, granting ICE officers more power to apprehend migrants with criminal records. "Criminals will no longer be able to hide in places like schools and churches," he said, referring to the areas where security forces' actions were previously restricted.
Key Questions on ICE Arrests in Religious Facilities
Why are religious groups suing the Trump administration?
Religious groups are suing because they believe ICE arrests in churches infringe on religious freedom and create fear, diminishing attendance and their ability to minister to migrants.
What does the lawsuit aim to achieve?
The lawsuit seeks to prevent ICE from conducting arrests in places of worship to ensure religious groups can practice their faith without fear and uphold their mission to help migrants.
Who are some of the key plaintiffs in the lawsuit?
Key plaintiffs include the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, Friends General Conference, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and the United Methodist Church.