More than two dozen religious organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its policy allowing immigration agents greater authority to make arrests at “sensitive locations,” including places of worship.
The lawsuit, filed by groups such as the Mennonite Church, the Episcopal Church, the Union for Reform Judaism, and the Unitarian Universalist Association, argues that the change to the policy violates their religious freedoms. The groups claim that fear of immigration enforcement has led to lower attendance at services, and that their members now face an “imminent risk” of being targeted.
The lawsuit opens with a statement of shared belief: “They bring this suit unified on a fundamental belief: Every human being, regardless of birthplace, is a child of God worthy of dignity, care, and love. Welcoming the stranger, or immigrant, is thus a central precept of their faith practices.”
In a press statement, Sean Rowe, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, said, “In God’s kingdom, immigrants and refugees are not at the edges, fearful and alone. We believe their struggles reveal the heart of God, and we cannot worship freely if some among us live in fear.”
Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, added, “Churches are, and have always been, places of prayer, solace, and safety since the time of Jesus Christ; this does not change with any new emperor, king, or president.”
The religious groups are asking for a permanent court order to prevent immigration enforcement at houses of worship or during religious services, unless agents have a judicial warrant or the situation is urgent.
This lawsuit is the second legal challenge filed by religious groups against the administration’s changes to the sensitive locations policy. In January, several Quaker groups in Maryland also sued to block ICE agents from entering their meeting houses.
The Trump administration has yet to respond to the lawsuit.
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