In a bold legal challenge against the Trump administration, 27 prominent Christian and Jewish organizations have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a policy that grants immigration agents broader authority to conduct arrests at houses of worship. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, argues that the policy infringes on religious freedoms and instills fear within faith communities, discouraging attendance at worship services and participation in essential outreach programs.
“We have immigrants, refugees, people who are documented and undocumented,” said Most Rev. Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. “We cannot worship freely if some of us are living in fear. By joining this lawsuit, we’re seeking the ability to gather and fully practice our faith, to follow Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves.”
The lawsuit is spearheaded by a coalition of faith-based institutions with millions of members nationwide, including:
The Episcopal Church (1.5 million members)
Union for Reform Judaism (over 1 million members)
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1.1 million members)
African Methodist Episcopal Church (1.5 million members)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Church of the Brethren
Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas (1,100 Hispanic Baptist churches)
Friends General Conference (Quakers)
Mennonite Church USA (50,000 members)
Unitarian Universalist Association
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
United Methodist Church
United Church of Christ
The lawsuit follows a similar challenge filed on January 27 by five Quaker congregations, later joined by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and a Sikh temple. That case is currently pending in U.S. District Court in Maryland.
Legal Battle Over Religious Freedom
The Trump administration has yet to respond to the new lawsuit. However, a Department of Justice (DOJ) memorandum opposing the earlier Quaker lawsuit suggests the administration’s likely defense. The DOJ argues that the lawsuit is based on “hypothetical future harm,” which does not justify blocking the policy. It further notes that immigration enforcement at houses of worship has been permitted for decades, with the new rule only removing the requirement for pre-approval from supervisors.
But religious leaders and legal experts argue the policy represents a dangerous expansion of government power.
“Now it’s go anywhere, anytime,” said Kelsi Corkran, lead counsel for the lawsuit and a lawyer at Georgetown University Law Center. “They have broad authority to swoop in — they’ve made it very clear they’ll get every undocumented person.”
She cited a disturbing case where a Honduran man was arrested outside his family’s church in Atlanta while a service was ongoing.
Plaintiffs argue that the policy endangers community outreach efforts, including food banks, meal programs, and homeless shelters. The Latino Christian National Network, another plaintiff, described a surge of fear among immigrant communities, forcing many to retreat from public religious gatherings.
Faith leaders warn that this policy undermines the core mission of their ministries—offering sanctuary, hope, and support to the vulnerable.
“This isn’t just a legal battle,” said one plaintiff. “It’s a moral and spiritual fight for the soul of our communities.”
As the case unfolds, millions across the country will be watching closely, waiting to see if the courts will uphold the sanctity of religious spaces or allow immigration enforcement to breach what many consider sacred ground.
PIONEER NEWS 