A federal judge has upheld the Trump administration’s stance on immigration enforcement at places of worship, dismissing a lawsuit filed by a coalition of religious groups seeking to block the policy.
U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, appointed by Trump, ruled that the plaintiffs—27 religious organizations, including Christian and Jewish groups—lacked the legal standing to challenge the policy. The groups had argued that the administration’s rollback of a longstanding directive barring enforcement actions at sensitive locations, such as churches, violated their religious freedoms under the First Amendment.
The case stems from a 2021 policy change, following Trump’s administration’s decision to end previous restrictions on immigration enforcement in places like houses of worship. Under the new rules, immigration officers are allowed to act without a judicial warrant unless there are “exigent circumstances,” such as a risk to public safety. The plaintiffs contend that the reversal has led to enforcement actions at churches, with at least three reported incidents since the change.
In her decision, Judge Friedrich found that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated a “credible threat” to their institutions, as no specific evidence showed that places of worship were being unfairly targeted. As a result, she denied the request to issue an injunction that would prevent future enforcement actions in these locations during the ongoing legal battle.
While some groups, including Quakers, Sikh temples, and Baptist organizations, have successfully won preliminary orders in separate cases to limit enforcement at their places of worship, this ruling suggests that the broader challenge against the Trump-era policy will face significant hurdles. The plaintiffs indicated they are still reviewing their legal options, expressing concern about the broader implications for religious freedom.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement, did not comment on the ruling.
