US Court Upholds Protection of Houses of Worship from ICE Enforcement

The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled against a Trump administration policy that had permitted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to conduct arrests at or near houses of worship.

The court's decision restores protections that had been in place for years, treating churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious sites as sensitive locations where immigration enforcement is restricted.

Faith leaders across denominations welcomed the ruling. Many had spoken out against the policy change when it was first announced, arguing that it would deter immigrants from attending worship services and seeking help from religious communities.

The case drew attention from a broad coalition of religious organizations, including Catholic, evangelical, mainline Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim groups. Several filed amicus briefs supporting the challenge to the policy.

Legal experts said the ruling is significant because it reaffirms the principle that religious spaces should remain accessible to all people, regardless of immigration status. The decision applies to the Fourth Circuit's jurisdiction, which covers several mid-Atlantic and southeastern states.

The Trump administration had argued that the policy was necessary for national security and immigration enforcement. The court disagreed, finding that the policy conflicted with established protections for sensitive locations.

Churches in communities with large immigrant populations said the ruling would help restore trust and encourage people to return to services they had avoided out of fear.