Religious organizations file a lawsuit against Trump for raids

Religious Organizations Sue Trump Over Raids

Tension Rises in the U.S. Over ICE Raids

Here Are the Details

A group of religious organizations filed a lawsuit this Tuesday against the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit challenges the authorization of immigration raids in churches, arguing that they represent an attack on religious freedom.

Filed by 27 religious organizations in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the lawsuit questions the legality of an order issued by the Trump administration on January 21. This order allows immigration authorities to conduct raids in schools, churches, and hospitals.

The order revoked a directive from his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden (2021-2025), which had established “protected areas” where raids were prohibited.

Religious Organizations Sue Trump Over Raids

Religious groups sue the Trump administration to protect migrants from detentions in places of worship. https://t.co/70tcdy4ldq

— Noticias Telemundo (@telemundonews) February 11, 2025

The religious organizations involved in the lawsuit have asked the court to invalidate the presidential order and prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from conducting arrests in churches except in “exceptional circumstances.”

They argue that the measure violates religious freedom protections under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits government interference in worship activities.

Reverend Carlos Malavé, president of the Latino Christian National Network (LCNN)—which represents approximately 3,000 churches—stated that the measure has instilled fear among congregants, many of whom have stopped attending religious services in person out of fear of being detained.

He compared the situation to the COVID-19 pandemic, when people avoided gathering in churches for health reasons.

Legal Arguments and Possible Consequences

Seven religious groups sue the Trump administration to protect places of worship from immigration arrests.

More details https://t.co/tczuecec3m pic.twitter.com/tdfdbbjdvi

— Univision Política (@unipolitica) February 11, 2025

The 27 organizations behind the lawsuit include various religious denominations, such as Baptists, Conservative and Reform Jews, Evangelicals, and Lutherans.

They all agree that «every human being, regardless of their place of birth, is a child of God and deserves dignity, care, and love.»

According to Kelsi Corkran, an attorney at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP), churches argue that Trump’s order not only violates the First Amendment but also the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993, which prohibits government restrictions on religious practice without a compelling justification.

Before this order, law enforcement could only enter a place of worship in extreme circumstances.

Uncertainty and the Fight for Justice Over Trump’s Raids

Now, they can enter at any time to carry out immigration operations, creating uncertainty and a «paralyzing effect» on many religious congregations.

If the court upholds Trump’s order, the organizations warn that the raids will cause «devastating, direct, and substantial harm» to the ability of churches to gather their congregants and practice their faith freely.

This was reported by the news agency EFE.

The religious community is closely following the legal process, hoping that the fundamental right to religious freedom in the United States will be upheld.

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Religious Organizations Sue Trump Over Raids