In a decisive ruling, a Maryland federal judge on Monday barred U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting immigration enforcement operations at or near houses of worship of several religious groups, citing violations of religious freedoms.

Faith Groups Challenge Immigration Crackdown

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang ruled that religious organizations, including Quaker groups, the New England Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, the Sikh Temple, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, are likely to succeed in proving that an ICE directive allowing raids at sensitive locations infringes upon their First Amendment rights.

"Given that each of the plaintiffs holds religious beliefs compelling them to welcome and serve immigrants, has substantial immigrant membership, or operates in immigrant-rich communities, it is reasonable to anticipate that DHS will direct immigration enforcement toward them specifically," Judge Chuang stated, referencing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Chilling Effect on Religious Practice

Judge Chuang dismissed DHS' argument that declining attendance at the plaintiffs' places of worship was an unreasonable response to a Trump-era policy removing restrictions on immigration enforcement at sensitive locations. The DHS had claimed that ICE agents were instructed to "use common sense" and "discretion," but Chuang highlighted an administration press release undermining that claim.

The press release had asserted that "criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest," contradicting DHS’ reassurances and reinforcing fears within immigrant communities.

Legal Battle Over Government Overreach

Chuang further found that DHS had failed to demonstrate a compelling state interest justifying the rollback of protections for religious spaces. The Biden administration's revised guidelines—which stressed that such enforcement actions should be rare, justified, and require high-level approval—were deemed a less restrictive alternative that the prior administration had ignored.

For over three decades, U.S. immigration policy had restricted enforcement actions in sensitive locations, including churches. The judge noted that DHS "offered no argument" supporting the necessity of reversing this longstanding policy, concluding that the agency failed to justify the shift.

Scope of Injunction: What’s Next?

While the religious organizations had sought a nationwide injunction, Judge Chuang limited the ruling to the specific plaintiffs involved in the case, stating that broader restrictions were unnecessary at this stage. For now, ICE is prohibited from conducting immigration raids at or near only the plaintiffs' places of worship.

The lawsuit, initially filed by the New England Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and other Quaker groups on January 27, alleges that the policy change violated their constitutional rights. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Sikh Temple Sacramento, and the New York Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends later joined the suit.

Legal representatives for the religious organizations, as well as officials from the U.S. Department of Justice and DHS, did not immediately respond to press inquiries.

The faith groups are represented by Alethea Anne Swift, Bradley Girard, Sarah Goetz, Andrew Bookbinder, J. Sterling Moore, Audrey Wiggins, and Skye Perryman of Democracy Forward.

DHS is represented by Brett A. Shumate, Alexander K. Haas, Andrew I. Warden, and Kristina A. Wolfe of the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Division.