27 Religious Groups Sue Trump Over Immigration Arrests at Houses of Worship/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A coalition of 27 Christian and Jewish religious groups has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging a new policy allowing immigration agents to make arrests at houses of worship. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, argues that the policy violates religious freedom by deterring undocumented immigrants from attending religious services and community programs. The Episcopal Church, Union for Reform Judaism, Mennonite Church USA, and others say the policy spreads fear and infringes on their ability to minister. The Trump administration defends the rule, arguing it simply removes restrictions on immigration enforcement.
Faith Leaders Sue Trump Over Immigration Arrests at Churches: Quick Looks
The Lawsuit
- 27 religious groups—including Christian, Jewish, and interfaith organizations—filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Trump administration’s new immigration enforcement policy.
- The lawsuit argues that allowing ICE agents to make arrests at churches, synagogues, and mosques infringes on religious freedom.
- Filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, the lawsuit seeks an injunction to block the rule.
Who’s Behind the Lawsuit?
- Plaintiffs include:
- The Episcopal Church (1.5 million members).
- Union for Reform Judaism (over 1 million followers).
- Presbyterian Church (USA) (1.1 million members).
- African Methodist Episcopal Church (1.5 million members).
- Unitarian Universalist Association, Mennonite Church USA, and more.
- The lawsuit expands on a similar case filed in January by Quaker congregations and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Trump Administration’s Immigration Policy Change
- Previously, immigration agents needed special approval before making arrests at “sensitive locations” such as churches, schools, and hospitals.
- Under Trump’s new policy, ICE agents can conduct arrests without supervisor approval.
- The administration argues that churches should not provide sanctuary for undocumented immigrants.
Arguments From Both Sides
- Religious groups: The policy spreads fear, lowers worship attendance, and violates the First Amendment.
- Trump administration: The policy removes unnecessary restrictions and ensures that no location is off-limits for law enforcement.
Impact on Immigrant Communities
- Faith leaders report immigrants avoiding church services due to fear of being arrested.
- Many religious organizations provide food banks, shelters, and support services—now at risk.
- Latino Christian leaders say some churches have moved to online services as congregants fear public gatherings.
27 Religious Groups Take Trump to Court Over Immigration Raids at Churches
Faith Groups Challenge Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
A coalition of 27 religious organizations representing millions of Americans has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that its new immigration enforcement policy violates religious freedom.
The lawsuit targets a rule change that allows immigration agents to conduct arrests at houses of worship without pre-approval—a shift from past policies that treated churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious sites as “sensitive locations.”
“We cannot worship freely if some of us are living in fear,” said Bishop Sean Rowe of the Episcopal Church, a lead plaintiff in the case.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, marking the largest legal challenge yet against Trump’s immigration policies by religious groups.
Who’s Behind the Lawsuit?
The lawsuit includes major religious organizations:
- The Episcopal Church (1.5 million members, 6,700 congregations).
- Union for Reform Judaism (over 1 million followers).
- Presbyterian Church (USA) (1.1 million members).
- African Methodist Episcopal Church (1.5 million members).
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Mennonite Church USA, and Unitarian Universalist Association.
“The massive scale of the lawsuit will be hard for them to ignore,” said Kelsi Corkran, lead attorney on the case.
How the Trump Administration Defends Its Policy
The Trump administration argues that:
- Houses of worship should not be “safe havens” for illegal immigration.
- Law enforcement should be able to operate without unnecessary restrictions.
- Arrests in religious spaces have happened before, and this rule simply formalizes agent discretion.
A Justice Department memo opposing an earlier Quaker-led lawsuit stated that the plaintiffs’ concerns were based on speculation, calling their case “hypothetical” and “without merit.”
Fear Spreads in Immigrant Communities
Religious leaders say the policy is already creating fear:
- People are skipping church services, food banks, and support programs out of fear of being arrested.
- A Honduran man was recently arrested outside his family’s church in Atlanta while a service was underway inside.
- Many Latino churches have moved to online services because congregants fear for their safety.
“People fear going to the store. They are avoiding church,” said Rev. Carlos Malavé, a Virginia pastor and leader of the Latino Christian National Network.
Pope Francis and U.S. Bishops Also Oppose Trump’s Crackdown
While the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops did not join the lawsuit, they have criticized Trump’s immigration policies.
- On Tuesday, Pope Francis issued a rebuke, warning that mass deportations “will end badly.”
- The Catholic Church has historically defended migrant rights, emphasizing that faith communities have a moral duty to protect the vulnerable.
Conservative Religious Leaders Support Trump’s Policy
Not all faith leaders oppose the rule. Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal group, defended Trump’s policy:
“Places of worship are for worship, not for harboring illegal activity,” said Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel founder.
Staver argued that churches should not shield criminals and that religious freedom does not include violating immigration laws.
What’s Next in the Legal Battle?
- The case could move quickly through the courts, given the constitutional questions involved.
- If the lawsuit succeeds, the court could block the policy nationwide.
- The Trump administration may appeal, potentially taking the case to the Supreme Court.
If the lawsuit prevails, it would mark a major legal defeat for Trump’s immigration policies and reinforce religious protections for houses of worship.
What’s Next?
- Will courts block Trump’s policy? If judges side with religious groups, the rule could be suspended nationwide.
- Will immigrant communities return to worship? Faith leaders say fear won’t fade overnight, even if the policy is overturned.
- How will conservative churches react? Some evangelical groups support Trump’s stance, creating a divide within religious communities.
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