The church group, along with nonprofits and interfaith groups, filed a complaint with the Trump administration about allowing immigrant raids at places of worship.
The complaint was filed Monday in US District Court for Eugene Division in the Oregon District, Oregon, and charges him of violating the church’s First Amendment rights.
“Long-standing federal policies based on both Republican and Democrat administrations have consistently supported the importance of protecting shelters, including places of worship, schools, medical clinics, social services, community-based organizations, and other public places except in limited circumstances, such as other public places where adults and children gather,” the lawsuit said.
“The defendants’ policies are unconstitutional and illegal. It violates the First Amendment to the US Constitution, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. It hurts the plaintiff’s organization’s mission, their core activities, and its members.”
Plaintiffs include Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon. Our Lady of the Parish of Guadalupe in San Diego, California. Gainesville, Florida, Westminster Presbyterian Church. Pineros y Campesinos Unidos Del Noroeste of Woodburn, Oregon; Interfaith Council of San Francisco, California.
Defendants named include the US Department of Homeland Security, DHS Executive Director Christie Noem, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, Todd Lyons, US Customs Border Protection, and CBP Actor Pete R. Flores.
In an email to the Christian Post, DHS Deputy Chief Tricia McLaughlin said:
“DHS directives give law enforcement the ability to do their job. Officers use discretion. Officers need approval from their assistant supervisor before taking action in places such as churches or schools. We expect these to be extremely rare.”
In January, the DHS announced the withdrawal of a policy enacted during the Obama administration in 2011, banning immigration law enforcement operations in “sensitive” areas, including churches and schools.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in American schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the DHS at the time said. “The Trump administration doesn’t tie our brave law enforcement hands, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
“The Biden Harris administration has misused the humanitarian parole program and indiscriminately allows 1.5 million immigrants to enter our country, all of which were suspended on the first day of the Trump administration.
Around 20 religious and sect groups filed complaints against DHS, CBP and ICE in February, claiming that the withdrawal of the policy violated religious freedom.
But earlier this month, Trump appointee District Judge Dabney Friedrich of the District of Columbia, opposed the demand for a temporary injunction, writing that such attacks on the church were rare and therefore did not burden the plaintiffs.
“Because the withdrawal of the policy came into effect more than 10 weeks ago, only one enforcement action was taken at a member meeting of hundreds of plaintiffs,” Friedrich wrote.
“The plaintiffs can only point to three cases since January 20, 2025. This case has been taking place anywhere in the country, or near places of worship, even under the current administration’s more active immigration priorities, and is increasing.”
Originally published by The Christian Post
