A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has determined that 27 religious organizations seeking to prevent the Trump administration from enforcing immigration laws in places of worship lack legal standing to pursue the case, indicating that it will not move forward to a full hearing.
Newsweek reached out to the press office of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comments on Saturday via email outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump was elected with a commitment to significantly reduce illegal immigration to the United States, including deporting individuals already residing unlawfully in the country.
In a conversation with Newsweek on April 1, the Trump administration reported that over 100,000 undocumented migrants had been deported since the president’s inauguration in January. This figure represents a small percentage of the estimated 11 million undocumented migrants living in the U.S. as of January 2022, according to DHS.
What To Know
Upon his return to office in January, Trump revoked a three-decade-old DHS policy that prohibited Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from operating in certain “protected areas,” such as places of worship.
The administration established a new policy that permitted immigration enforcement officers to exercise “discretion” and “common sense” in the vicinity of religious buildings.
In response to this policy change, 27 Christian and Jewish organizations filed a lawsuit against the DHS, arguing that it was unlawful as it infringed upon the freedom of worship.
The organizations sought a preliminary injunction to prevent ICE agents from entering various places of worship while the full lawsuit was pending.
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On Friday, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled that the groups did not have standing, or the right to sue, as they presented only a limited number of instances of ICE activity in religious buildings and were unable to demonstrate “that places of worship are being singled out as special targets.”
The plaintiffs indicated that attendance at some places of worship had dropped by double-digit percentages since Trump rescinded the previous policy. Judge Friedrich stated it was unclear whether the change in policy regarding ICE’s access to religious buildings was specifically responsible for the decline or whether it stemmed from a broader rise in ICE enforcement.
During the Biden administration, the list of “protected areas” free from ICE actions was expanded to include social service centers and playgrounds.
According to Reuters, there have been at least three immigration enforcement actions in churches since Trump altered the rules.
What People Are Saying
U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, stated: “Evidence suggests that congregants are staying home to avoid encountering ICE in their own neighborhoods, not because churches or synagogues are locations of elevated risk.”
Kelsi Corkran, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, remarked in a statement: “We remain gravely concerned about the impacts of this policy and are committed to safeguarding the fundamental rights enshrined in the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.”
What Happens Next
Some level of immigration enforcement is likely to persist at religious locations, though a significant increase would undoubtedly spark renewed controversy and further legal challenges.
