Judge Approves Immigration Raids in US Churches

Judge approves immigration raids in US churches
Reported by AP
Details below

A federal judge in the United States rejected on Friday a request by more than two dozen Christian and Jewish religious groups that sought to block immigration enforcement operations in churches, synagogues, and other places of worship.

The decision supports the stricter immigration policy implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration following his return to office.

District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich, from the District of Columbia, ruled that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate sufficient legal harm to justify a preliminary injunction.

“At least at this stage and with the current record, the plaintiffs have not shown a ‘credible threat’ of enforcement,” Friedrich wrote in her ruling.

“Nor does the current record indicate that places of worship are being specially targeted.”

Judge approves immigration raids in US churches

🇺🇸🙏 Churches in the U.S. are streaming services online due to fear of ICE raids 🚔. After reversing a policy that protected places of worship, many Latino worshippers are avoiding in-person attendance .#Newsondemand pic.twitter.com/tteet1xdzi

– News on Demand (@OnDemand_News) April 8, 2025

The lawsuit was filed by over 20 religious organizations representing millions of congregants across the country, in response to a new directive from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

This policy, implemented on January 20—the first day of Trump’s second term—eliminated previous restrictions that had limited immigration arrests in so-called “protected” or “sensitive” areas such as religious temples.

Unlike the prior rule, which had been in place for more than 30 years, the new directive allows immigration agents to carry out operations in places of worship without prior authorization from a supervisor, relying solely on “common sense” and “discretion.”

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue that the change infringes on religious freedom and instills fear within immigrant communities, many of whom seek spiritual refuge and support in churches or synagogues.

One Case Among Many Legal Disputes

Churches in the U.S. begin livestreaming services over fears of ICE raids https://t.co/kqycu1rfgj #Internationals

-Noti-america.com (@Notiamerica) April 11, 2025

This case is part of a growing number of legal disputes over current immigration policies.

In February, a federal judge in Maryland ruled against the Trump administration in a similar lawsuit filed by Quaker groups and other religious organizations.

However, that ruling only applied to the plaintiffs in that specific case.

By contrast, a judge in Colorado sided with the federal government in a lawsuit related to the removal of restrictions on carrying out arrests in schools.