Churches sue Trump admin over ICE arrests inside Churches policy change

Faith Groups Challenge End of ‘Sensitive Locations’ Protections

Religious organizations representing thousands of congregations have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration after it lifted decades-old restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations at or near houses of worship.

The policy change, issued on President Donald Trump’s first day back in office, removed longstanding “sensitive locations” guidance that limited ICE enforcement at churches, schools and hospitals. Instead, agents are now directed to use “common sense” when conducting operations in such areas.

Faith leaders argue the shift has chilled attendance, deterred immigrant congregants from worshipping and interfered with core religious practices.

Clergy Access to Detention Facilities Also Disputed

Beyond enforcement near churches, lawsuits also challenge restrictions that bar clergy from providing pastoral care to migrants held in temporary detention facilities.

In Chicago, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman ruled that ICE restrictions “substantially burdened” clergy members’ religious rights. He ordered the agency to permit limited access so faith leaders could provide ashes and Communion on Ash Wednesday.

In Minnesota, U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell is weighing a similar case involving access to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building.

Advocates argue the policies violate the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which requires the government to use the least restrictive means when limiting religious exercise.

Administration Says Fears Are Overstated

The Department of Homeland Security has dismissed concerns as exaggerated. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the Free Exercise Clause does not shield unlawful conduct and argued that individuals in the country legally “have nothing to fear.”

In court, administration lawyers have emphasized that ICE has carried out relatively few enforcement actions at churches, arguing that speculative fears do not justify judicial intervention.

Appeals Court Signals Skepticism

A federal appeals panel in Washington, D.C., appeared unconvinced during recent arguments in a case brought by Christian and Jewish congregations seeking a warrant requirement for ICE operations near houses of worship.

Judge Robert Wilkins questioned the logic of lifting enforcement barriers while simultaneously asking courts to assume churches would not be targeted. Judge Florence Pan noted that requiring warrants could effectively make houses of worship more legally protected than private homes.

Separate litigation brought by Quaker, Baptist and Sikh congregations is also moving forward at the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Broader Debate Over Religious Freedom and Immigration

Faith leaders say the policy changes are already reshaping congregational life — from reduced attendance to reconsidering whether immigrants can serve in leadership roles.

Ingrid Rasmussen, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, questioned whether religious freedom is being applied equally. Advocates argue the dispute is not only about immigration enforcement but about whether congregations can freely welcome and minister to immigrants without fear of government intrusion.

The legal battles now unfolding in multiple federal courts will likely determine how far immigration enforcement can extend into spaces traditionally considered sacred.

SOURCE: POLITICO

11 minutes ago, Social Media said:

The policy change, issued on President Donald Trump’s first day back in office, removed longstanding “sensitive locations” guidance that limited ICE enforcement at churches, schools and hospitals.

Outstanding. I voted for this, and would do so again without hesitation.

11 minutes ago, Social Media said:

Faith leaders argue the shift has chilled attendance, deterred immigrant congregants from worshipping

Illegal aliens are not "immigrants" and if their attendance is "chilled" or "deterred" then great! Their lives in the USA should be as uncomfortable as possible. GTFO!

Where you going go, where you going to hide ...

... Rock on ICE, getting it done. BYE BYE criminals

No humanity. Wonder how many in the administration and ICErs call themselves Christians?

So if Ice can arrest in churges, I presume also protests against Ice in churches are ok now?

19 hours ago, tai4de2 said:

Outstanding. I voted for this, and would do so again without hesitation.

Illegal aliens are not "immigrants" and if their attendance is "chilled" or "deterred" then great! Their lives in the USA should be as uncomfortable as possible. GTFO!

And of course, once established policy, a part of The American Way of Life, this can be extended to include Negroes, Gays, and many other categories of people. I believe that the historical term is " untermensch", identify a group in society, particularly if they have physical characteristics, round them up ( without bothering too much about legal niceties, detain them, and remove them. Move on then to other groups...

There is after all a template for weakening a democracy and turning it into a racist state led by an unchallenged political movement. It's a bit dusty, a century old and of course written in German, but with some cleaning up and Google Translate it's good to go!

GROFAZ: Grossten Fuhrer Alles Zeit.

GOAT: Greatest of all time.

"One of ours all of yours." As the legend on Kristi Noem's lectern proclaimed - Lidice 1942, to save you the trouble of Googling it.

What was it someone said about history repeating itself...

Religious assembly was virtually made illegal in 2020. Didn't hear too many any complaints from the secular left back then.

So now they are arguing for religious freedom?

A classic Orwellian display of cognitive dissonance.

I wonder when the First Nations or Native Americans will start their own ICE and deport the families of the illegal immigrants who arrived centuries ago?

🤪

23 hours ago, Social Media said:

Churches sue Trump admin over ICE arrests inside Churches policy change

Faith Groups Challenge End of ‘Sensitive Locations’ Protections

Religious organizations representing thousands of congregations have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration after it lifted decades-old restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations at or near houses of worship.

The policy change, issued on President Donald Trump’s first day back in office, removed longstanding “sensitive locations” guidance that limited ICE enforcement at churches, schools and hospitals. Instead, agents are now directed to use “common sense” when conducting operations in such areas.

Faith leaders argue the shift has chilled attendance, deterred immigrant congregants from worshipping and interfered with core religious practices.

Clergy Access to Detention Facilities Also Disputed

Beyond enforcement near churches, lawsuits also challenge restrictions that bar clergy from providing pastoral care to migrants held in temporary detention facilities.

In Chicago, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman ruled that ICE restrictions “substantially burdened” clergy members’ religious rights. He ordered the agency to permit limited access so faith leaders could provide ashes and Communion on Ash Wednesday.

In Minnesota, U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell is weighing a similar case involving access to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building.

Advocates argue the policies violate the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which requires the government to use the least restrictive means when limiting religious exercise.

Administration Says Fears Are Overstated

The Department of Homeland Security has dismissed concerns as exaggerated. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the Free Exercise Clause does not shield unlawful conduct and argued that individuals in the country legally “have nothing to fear.”

In court, administration lawyers have emphasized that ICE has carried out relatively few enforcement actions at churches, arguing that speculative fears do not justify judicial intervention.

Appeals Court Signals Skepticism

A federal appeals panel in Washington, D.C., appeared unconvinced during recent arguments in a case brought by Christian and Jewish congregations seeking a warrant requirement for ICE operations near houses of worship.

Judge Robert Wilkins questioned the logic of lifting enforcement barriers while simultaneously asking courts to assume churches would not be targeted. Judge Florence Pan noted that requiring warrants could effectively make houses of worship more legally protected than private homes.

Separate litigation brought by Quaker, Baptist and Sikh congregations is also moving forward at the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Broader Debate Over Religious Freedom and Immigration

Faith leaders say the policy changes are already reshaping congregational life — from reduced attendance to reconsidering whether immigrants can serve in leadership roles.

Ingrid Rasmussen, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, questioned whether religious freedom is being applied equally. Advocates argue the dispute is not only about immigration enforcement but about whether congregations can freely welcome and minister to immigrants without fear of government intrusion.

The legal battles now unfolding in multiple federal courts will likely determine how far immigration enforcement can extend into spaces traditionally considered sacred.

SOURCE: POLITICO

Well this is not going to work as ICE agents are surely not recruited for their use of "common sense", which appears to be as rare as hens teeth in this bunch, following MAGA tradition!

7 hours ago, JAG said:

And of course, once established policy, a part of The American Way of Life, this can be extended to include Negroes, Gays, and many other categories of people

Yawn. 🥱

No one is suggesting any of that — except you. Rounding up illegals is based on their BEHAVIOR of being in the USA illegally, not their race or any other characteristic leftists use to divide people (usually sow dissent or to preserve access to cheap labor/slaves, etc.).

Good luck with your nazi fantasies.

4 hours ago, Watawattana said:

I wonder when the First Nations or Native Americans will start their own ICE and deport the families of the illegal immigrants who arrived centuries ago?

Presumably, you don’t recognize the authority of any nation to control who enters and remains in its territory? Because there’s not a single nation on earth encompassing land that didn’t involve some form of migration+conquest, etc., in its past.

If you’re a foreigner in Thailand, following Thailand’s visa and immigration processes for example, that makes you quite the hypocrite.

4 hours ago, Watawattana said:

I wonder when the First Nations or Native Americans will start their own ICE and deport the families of the illegal immigrants who arrived centuries ago?

🤪

highly unlikely considering they spend most of their time drunk or dancing around the totem pole.

When the original immigrants arrived in the USA in the 17th century it was totally uncivilised and there were no laws So how could they possibly be considered illegal.

And If they had never gone there at all the natives would still be living like that today

4 hours ago, xylophone said:

Well this is not going to work as ICE agents are surely not recruited for their use of "common sense", which appears to be as rare as hens teeth in this bunch, following MAGA tradition!

They are employed to remove illegal immigrants . Simple as that

8 hours ago, JAG said:

And of course, once established policy, a part of The American Way of Life, this can be extended to include Negroes, Gays, and many other categories of people. I believe that the historical term is " untermensch", identify a group in society, particularly if they have physical characteristics, round them up ( without bothering too much about legal niceties, detain them, and remove them. Move on then to other groups...

There is after all a template for weakening a democracy and turning it into a racist state led by an unchallenged political movement. It's a bit dusty, a century old and of course written in German, but with some cleaning up and Google Translate it's good to go!

GROFAZ: Grossten Fuhrer Alles Zeit.

GOAT: Greatest of all time.

"One of ours all of yours." As the legend on Kristi Noem's lectern proclaimed - Lidice 1942, to save you the trouble of Googling it.

What was it someone said about history repeating itself...

This has nothing to do with Germany at all, You should seek help for your Nazi obsession

22 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

No humanity. Wonder how many in the administration and ICErs call themselves Christians?

There is nothing unchristian about dealing with criminals

On 2/27/2026 at 1:03 PM, KhunLA said:

Where you going go, where you going to hide ...

... Rock on ICE, getting it done. BYE BYE criminals

its absolutely astonishing that anybody would disagree with your post,

I guess those that gave you the thumbs downs are the same sort of idiots that cried over George Floyd and would defund the police

5 hours ago, Watawattana said:

I wonder when the First Nations or Native Americans will start their own ICE and deport the families of the illegal immigrants who arrived centuries ago?

🤪

Yea, them Brits, French, Ruskies & Spaniards would have to pay big restitution ...

46 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

This has nothing to do with Germany at all, You should seek help for your Nazi obsession

What was it someone said about history repeating itself...

48 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

This has nothing to do with Germany at all, You should seek help for your Nazi obsession

1 hour ago, tai4de2 said:

Yawn. 🥱

50 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

This has nothing to do with Germany at all, You should seek help for your Nazi obsession

I'm sure that you and others will continue to variously feign boredom, and sophistication to justify to yourself, and excuse and explain what is happening in US politics.

History has a habit of repeating itself. Sure, details change: American exceptionalism rather than Aryan supremacy, different scapegoats (Hispanic and Somali immigrants rathe than Jews) but the essentials: the demagoguery, the lack of concern for legal and constitutional constraints and even the corruption and enrichment are there, remain the same.

Italy under Mussolin, Spain under Franco, Germany under Hitler, Soviet Russia under Stalin - look upon them as round 1

America under Trump/MAGA - a work in progress to establish round 2?

To quote a leader of a totally unconnected yet equally vicious and unprincipled political movement: "They haven't gone away you know!"

Lets bring it up to date, what think you, a manufactured chaotic mess of the midterm election, followed by an "enabling act" to prolong the existing Congress?

2 hours ago, tai4de2 said:

Presumably, you don’t recognize the authority of any nation to control who enters and remains in its territory? Because there’s not a single nation on earth encompassing land that didn’t involve some form of migration+conquest, etc., in its past.

If you’re a foreigner in Thailand, following Thailand’s visa and immigration processes for example, that makes you quite the hypocrite.

Perhaps. But longtime, established "illegal" immigrants in the US should be grandfathered in. Just as we should have been years ago. Almost every country uses time for residency status. Why not here?

6 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Perhaps. But longtime, established "illegal" immigrants in the US should be grandfathered in. Just as we should have been years ago. Almost every country uses time for residency status. Why not here?

Because they are criminals. Criminals don't get a pass, simply because they haven't been caught committing any more crimes.

You should tell Thai immigration that, surely they'll grandfather the illegals in.

Refugees that have been in TH for decades are still 'stateless'

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Because they are criminals. Criminals don't get a pass, simply because they haven't been caught committing any more crimes.

You should tell Thai immigration that, surely they'll grandfather the illegals in. Or all the other countries.

What countries 'pardons' / grandfathers, illegal immigrants please ???

Illegal criminals are not criminals, it's a civil offence.

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Because they are criminals. Criminals don't get a pass, simply because they haven't been caught committing any more crimes.

You should tell Thai immigration that, surely they'll grandfather the illegals in.

Refugees that have been in TH for decades are still 'stateless'

Obviously, I'm not talking about---whoooo--"illegals" here but the rest of us for whom this is home.

15 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Perhaps. But longtime, established "illegal" immigrants in the US should be grandfathered in. Just as we should have been years ago. Almost every country uses time for residency status. Why not here?

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

Illegal criminals are not criminals, it's a civil offence.

It's a criminal act to illegally enter the USA, and do it a 2nd time, and it's a felony.

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

It's a criminal act to illegally enter the USA, and do it a 2nd time, and it's a felony.

2nd time yes, criminals. First time no, civil offence. So your blanket statement was incorrect.

2 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Obviously, I'm not talking about---whoooo--"illegals" here but the rest of us for whom this is home.

You must wear flip flop to sleep, as you keep rewriting you posts in your head. Might want to reread what you posted again ... and please tell me about all those 'most' countries you're saying grandfather in Illegal aliens. Just a few in the EU.

USA used to do it, if you applied before 2001.

Just now, stevenl said:

2nd time yes, criminals. First time no, civil offence. So your blanket statement was incorrect.

NO, it's a crime to enter the USA illegally. A criminal, misdemeanor charge, is still a crime, and nothing civil about it....

"AI Overview

Yes, a USA misdemeanor charge is a criminal offense, carrying potential punishments of up to 12 months in local jail, fines, probation, or community service. While less severe than felonies, they still result in a permanent criminal record, impacting employment, housing, and professional licensing"

Blimey, if it's a felony, does that mean you have to do it 35 times before you can be considered for the Presidency?

Flippant I know, but surely some will appreciate the irony of musing about felonies, given the record of the chap running the place!

Sounds correct and constitutional, as the Democrats again favour criminals over US Citizens

16 hours ago, JAG said:

And of course, once established policy, a part of The American Way of Life, this can be extended to include Negroes, Gays, and many other categories of people. I believe that the historical term is " untermensch", identify a group in society, particularly if they have physical characteristics, round them up

What are you talking about , ? .In case you haven't noticed this policy of deportation already includes Negroes , gays. straights , transexuals, latinoes , Asians, and just about every other category of people including of course Caucasians , and even british citizens for gods sake , It's very very inclusive , nobody is left out

Regardless of what it used to ba called in german language , The modern day term is "Illegal Immigrant" often used in conjunction with the word "criminal"

It has nothing to do with any physical characteristics , but they all have something in common ( a lack of passport , valid visa , and work permit, etc but often have a criminal record) they are relatively easy to identify, round up and deport.

I would have thought you would be in favour of any policy that is so inclusive , and discriminates against no one ,

It may appear that certain groups are being disproportionately targeted , but that is just a myth perpetrated by leftists, They all have to go , sooner or later,and its only a matter of time, those groups who make up the largest percentage of illegals are bound to feature more in the biased media reports simply because there are more of them, hopefully every last one of them is deported by the end of trumps presidency