Federal Judge Blocks Immigration Enforcement in Houses of Worship Amid Religious Freedom Concerns

A federal judge in Greenbelt, Maryland, issued a ruling on Monday preventing immigration agents from carrying out enforcement operations in houses of worship for certain religious groups, including Quakers, a network of Baptist churches in Georgia, and a Sikh temple in California. The decision was made after these groups filed a lawsuit challenging a policy introduced by the Trump administration, which allowed immigration enforcement agents to operate in places of worship without needing approval from a supervisor.

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chang ruled that the policy might infringe upon the religious freedoms of these groups and decided to block it temporarily as the lawsuit proceeds. The policy change, which removed previous restrictions on enforcement in so-called "protected areas" like religious institutions, was implemented as part of the Trump administration's broader push to enforce stricter immigration measures.

The plaintiffs argue that the policy represents a significant departure from a long-standing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) practice, which had aimed to avoid carrying out enforcement actions in sensitive locations. The groups involved in the case, including Quaker communities from several states, assert that the new policy instills fear in immigrant congregants, deterring them from attending religious services.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs emphasized that many immigrants are afraid to go to worship services because of the possibility of deportation, and they cited the negative impact this has had on their religious communities. In court, one attorney mentioned that this fear is widespread, affecting people across the country.

Government lawyers countered that there was no evidence to suggest that any of the religious groups had been specifically targeted by immigration agents. They argued that the plaintiffs were merely speculating about potential harms, and they rejected the claim that the policy violated religious freedoms. Additionally, they pointed out that the DHS has historically been allowed to conduct enforcement operations in sensitive locations, including houses of worship, with the only change being the removal of the requirement for supervisor approval.

In a broader context, over two dozen Christian and Jewish organizations, representing millions of Americans, have filed a separate lawsuit in Washington, D.C., also challenging the policy. Legal representatives for the Maryland plaintiffs are seeking a nationwide injunction against the policy, arguing that it could allow immigration enforcement in any house of worship, regardless of the religion practiced there.