Groups Seek Temporary Restraining Order, Enjoin DHS Policy to Protect Ability to Worship

Greenbelt, Maryland – The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which consists of 1,400 churches in the Baptist denomination serving an estimated 750,000 individual Baptists, and the Sikh Temple Sacramento, representing 30,000 Sikhs, along with the New York Yearly Meeting, joined a suit filed on January 27 by Quaker Meetings challenging the Trump Administration’s abrupt shift in policy that enables immigration officials to enter houses of worship indiscriminately to conduct immigration enforcement operations. Plaintiffs are seeking a temporary restraining order to preserve freedom of association and worship and to stem the harms already impacting them and their ministries. 

The Trump-Vance administration’s abrupt shift in policy is unlawful, and the suit alleges that the Trump policy violates the First Amendment and other protections including the prohibition against agencies of the federal government acting arbitrarily and capriciously. 

This policy is also inconsistent with the historic commitments to religious freedom and ministry among the plaintiffs. Since its founding, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has been committed to the principles of religious liberty, separation of church and state and autonomy of congregations. CBF and its members are committed to ministry among immigrants and refugees as a matter of faith that flows from the teachings of Scripture, and creating conditions for people to thrive is an expression of Baptist religious beliefs. For the Sikh community, Gurdwaras are where Sikhs gather for worship and fellowship, and central to the concept of a gurdwara, including Gurdwara Sahib West Sacramento, is that all people must be welcomed without fear. Since 1695, the New York Yearly Meeting has maintained close ties to the immigrant communities, welcoming immigrants and refugees for meals and community. 

“The recent revocation of the sensitive location status is already harming the ministries of many of our congregations, the work of our field personnel and the life of our Fellowship,” said CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley. “As Baptists, despite our many differences on theology and political preference, we have stood steadfast for centuries in the belief that local congregations should be free to carry out their mission as guided by the Holy Spirit.”

“As Sikhs, communal worship and fellowship are foundational to our faith, and we believe that everyone must be welcomed with open arms and without fear. Allowing immigration enforcement activities at Gurdwaras is already preventing some from attending, which harms the entire Sangat. We are honored to join this lawsuit, standing up against this administration’s attack on our religious communities,” said Amar Shergill, Board Member, Gurdwara Sahib West Sacramento. 

“The New York Yearly Meeting is dedicated to ensuring that our places of worship remain safe, inclusive spaces where all individuals can practice their faith and engage in community. We are also committed to safeguarding and supporting our immigrant friends and neighbors,” said Steve Mohlke, General Secretary New York Yearly Meeting.

The groups have also asked the court to grant immediate relief from this unlawful policy. Without this relief, the grave harm that DHS’s policy is causing will continue as many people will not go to worship, many who do will lose the ability to worship with their co-congregants who are already avoiding services out of fear, and many will not be able to live out their core religious beliefs. 

The complaint is available here. The motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction was filed on February 4, 2025 and is available here. Plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward. 

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