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A Maryland federal judge has temporarily barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from entering churches or targeting migrants near them. Judge Theodore Chuang’s order prevents ICE from conducting immigration enforcement actions at or near places of worship involved in a lawsuit filed by Quakers, Baptists, and Sikhs.
This ruling is a victory for religious groups who argued that the policy change violated long-standing federal practices. Judge Chuang warned that violations of the injunction would result in penalties, including contempt of court. The order does not apply to arrests made with a warrant.
The decision deals a blow to the government’s immigration enforcement efforts. The plaintiffs, including the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the Sikh Temple Sacramento, argued the policy discouraged attendance at religious services.
An advocacy group representing the religious organizations praised the ruling as a protection of religious liberty. They emphasized that everyone, regardless of immigration status, should be able to attend religious services without fear.
The legal challenge stemmed from a memo issued by the acting head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rescinding previous guidelines protecting places of worship from immigration enforcement. The lawsuit claimed the policy violated constitutional rights to freedom of association and religious freedom, as well as administrative procedure laws.
The plaintiffs argued that the presence of ICE agents near religious services would deter attendance. They cited a long-standing government policy against immigration enforcement in “protected areas,” including houses of worship, except under extraordinary circumstances. They maintained that such enforcement restricts access to essential services and activities.