Democracy Forward President & CEO Skye Perryman: “Raids in churches and sacred spaces violate decades of norms in both Democratic and Republican administrations, core constitutional protections, and basic human decency”
Washington, D.C. – On Monday, Democracy Forward and a large coalition of faith groups filed a lawsuit and motion for a preliminary injunction (PI) against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secretary Kristi Noem over the sweeping and aggressive immigration policy that gives free rein to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to conduct enforcement actions in and around houses of worship and other “sensitive locations.” The lawsuit argues the policy violates the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act.
For over 30 years, the federal government restricted immigration enforcement at houses of worship and other sensitive locations, acknowledging that to carry out raids, arrests, and surveillance at those locations could deny people of faith access to their places of worship and violate religious freedom rights. But soon after taking office, the Trump-Vance administration abruptly reversed course and abandoned these longstanding protections, giving ICE agents discretionary power to use their “common sense” and decide whether to carry out enforcement actions at or near houses of worship.
The complaint on behalf of 11 major faith-based organizations representing Lutheran synods, Quaker meetings, Baptist coalitions, and inclusive Christian churches – New England Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, et al., v. Department of Homeland Security, et al. – seeks immediate relief to protect their members, ministries, and sacred spaces.
Read the filing here and the PI motion here.
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Miami Herald: ‘Un-American’ ICE raids on sacred spaces must end, says suit by religious groups
Eleven religious groups are suing the Department of Homeland Security in response to a Trump administration policy reversal ending a decades-long practice protecting houses of worship, schools and hospitals from immigration officials looking to enforce action.
The lawsuit, filed July 28 by Democracy Forward and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs on behalf of the religious groups — including American Baptist Churches USA, Quaker groups in San Francisco Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and five Evangelical Lutheran Churches across the country — asks the court to declare the policy reversal unconstitutional and end ICE raids in sacred spaces.
“Raids in churches and sacred spaces violate decades of norms in both Democratic and Republican administrations, core constitutional protections, and basic human decency,” Skye Perryman, president & CEO of Democracy Forward, said in a July 28 email shared with McClatchy News.
Religion News Service: Fourth group of religious organizations sues US over ICE raids at churches
A group of Christian denominations and organizations filed a lawsuit on Monday (July 28) against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem over the Trump administration’s decision to rescind a policy discouraging immigration raids at houses of worship, the fourth such suit to be brought on the question of arrests made at so-called “sensitive locations.” “For Plaintiffs and their members, the present threat of surveillance, interrogation, or arrest at their houses of worship means, among other things, fewer congregants participating in communal worship; a diminished ability to provide or participate in religious ministries; and interference with their ability to fulfill their religious mandates, including their obligations to welcome all comers to worship and not to put any person in harm’s way,” the complaint reads.
The plaintiffs include five regional synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and three regional Quaker groups. Three Christian denominations are also listed: American Baptist Churches USA, Alliance of Baptists and Metropolitan Community Churches. They are represented by progressive legal groups Democracy Forward, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs and the Washington law firm Gilbert LLP.
WBUR: Faith groups sue Trump administration to block immigration raids at houses of worship
A coalition of faith groups led by Worcester’s New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America sued the Trump administration Monday to block immigration raids at houses of worship.
The suit, filed Monday at a Worcester federal court, alleges that the raids violate the constitutional right to religious freedom. It names the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement, and Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants.
The coalition of faith groups includes other regional synods, several Quaker and Baptist groups and the Metropolitan Community Churches, which has a congregation in Boston. Democracy Forward, a Washington, D.C.-based legal organization, is suing DHS on behalf of the groups.
Baptist News Global: New lawsuit again seeks to block ICE raids at churches
The Alliance of Baptists and American Baptist Churches USA have joined a coalition of religious groups in a new lawsuit seeking to bar immigration enforcement actions in houses of worship.
The federal action was filed July 28 by Democracy Forward and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from pursuing or arresting migrants in sensitive locations such as churches, hospitals and schools.
“Raids in churches and sacred spaces violate decades of norms in both Democratic and Republican administrations, core constitutional protections, and basic human decency,” Democracy Forward President Skye Perryman said. “Faith communities should not have to choose between their spiritual commitments and the safety of their congregants.”
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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.