Murphy – The Institute for Constitutional Advocacy & Protection at Georgetown Law filed a lawsuit on behalf of more than two dozen Christian and Jewish religious denominations and associations in response to the Trump Administration’s rescission of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security “sensitive locations” policy that had restricted Immigration & Customs Enforcement from conducting immigration raids, arrests and other enforcement actions at houses of worship.
The new policy thus green-lights enforcement actions that could interrupt religious services in furtherance of the Administration’s mass deportation plans. The case, Mennonite Church USA. et al., vs. U.S. Department of Homeland Security et al., was filed in federal district court in Washington.
The Rev. Wil Posey of First United Methodist Church commented on social media.
“Certainly, there is room in our country to have clear and meaningful immigration reform,” he said. “But rescinding a 30-year policy that prevented ICE from entering churches, schools and hospitals for enforcement actions isn’t that.
“Bishop Carter (Kenneth H. Carter Jr., resident bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church) says it like this: ‘We join with many other Christian traditions and our Jewish neighbors in appealing for the sacredness of our sanctuaries and the integrity of our worshipping communities.
“ ‘We seek to be people of peace and hospitality, to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. And we seek to honor the promises made when we baptize, that we are a church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations and races.’ ”
“I’m proud of the way our congregation, the UMC and lots of churches as well as houses of worship in other faith traditions are places of worship, community support and refuge.” Posey said. “Let’s pursue meaningful immigration reform. Fine and good. But can’t we do it with mercy?”
The lawsuit
The lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs & Border Protection Pete Flores, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement and acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello.
“Plaintiffs represent millions of Americans across dozens of denominations rooted in the Jewish and Christian faiths,” said Kelsi Corkran, lead counsel for plaintiffs and ICAP Supreme Court director. “They have come together to file this suit because their scripture, teaching, and traditions offer irrefutable unanimity on their religious obligation to embrace and serve the refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants in their midst without regard to documentation or legal status.
“The Department of Homeland Security’s abrupt decision to rescind the sensitive locations policy and subject places of worship to immigration enforcement action is a clear violation of Plaintiffs’ rights under the First Amendment and Religious Freedom Restoration Act. We look forward to presenting our case in court.”
By subjecting their places of worship to ICE enforcement actions without judicial warrant or exigent circumstances, the plaintiffs assert that the government is interfering with their religious activities and ability to fulfill their religious mandate to welcome and serve immigrants.
The commission
The General Commission on Religion & Race is one of 13 church-wide agencies of the United Methodist Church. The commission offers teaching resources, training and networking for Christians seeking to bring their faith to the task of dismantling racism, tribalism and xenophobia in all forms.
Organizations filing the lawsuit include Mennonite Church USA, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Central Atlantic Conference United Church of Christ, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, Episcopal Church, General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), N.C. Council of Churches, North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and Western North Carolina Conference of United Methodist Church.
Details: Visit gcorr.org.