Coalition of 27 Multifaith Organizations Win Major Legal Case Against the U.S. Government Administration's Policy Allowing ICE to Conduct Arrests inside and Around Houses of Worship
A multifaith coalition of 27 religious organizations has won a major legal victory against the Trump administration's policy allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct immigration arrests inside and around houses of worship. On October 20, 2026, a split 2-1 panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit revived a major lawsuit, ruling that a coalition of 27 Christian and Jewish denominations has the standing to sue the federal government. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The legal battle stems from the Trump administration's decision shortly after returning to office in 2025 to rescind a decades-old "sensitive locations" policy. That long-standing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance had strictly prohibited ICE agents from carrying out enforcement operations, raids, and surveillance at churches, schools, and hospitals without prior high-level supervisor approval. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Key Aspects of the Legal Challenge
- The D.C. Circuit Ruling: The appeals court overturned a lower district court's decision, which had dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that the churches could not prove a "credible threat of imminent enforcement". Judges Florence Pan and Robert Wilkins ruled that the groups do face severe and concrete injuries from the policy shift, sending the case back to a lower court judge to reconsider a preliminary injunction. [1, 2, 3]
- The Plaintiffs' Argument: Led by groups like the Mennonite Church USA, the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Presbyterian Church, and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the coalition argues that the rule change directly violates their constitutionally protected religious liberties. They assert that "welcoming the stranger" is a fundamental precept of their faith. [1, 2]
- Impact on Congregations: In legal filings, the groups note that the looming threat of ICE actions has caused church attendance to drop, forced congregations to lock their doors, and disrupted standard community ministries like preschool pickups. [1]
- Parallel Legal Victories: This is one of multiple active challenges. In August 2026, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a separate injunction barring federal immigration raids at over 1,400 Quaker, Sikh, and Baptist houses of worship across 33 states. [1, 2, 3]
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