Religious groups sue Trump over worship arrest policy crackdown
A lawsuit challenging Trump's immigration policy, which increases the ability of authorities to make arrests in places of worship, was filed on Tuesday in court by religious groups representing millions of Americans. This action reflects the dissatisfaction of members of Christian and Jewish communities.
Several religious organizations in the United States, representing millions of believers, have filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump's administration. According to the Associated Press, the policy that allows immigration agents more freedom to make arrests in houses of worship has sparked opposition.
The plaintiffs include the Episcopal Church, Union for Reform Judaism, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, as well as Mennonites and Presbyterians. The lawsuit argues that the new policy results in decreased attendance at worship services, thereby violating religious freedom. "We have immigrants, refugees, people who are documented and undocumented," said Sean Rowe from the Episcopal Church.
Faithful fear raids in places of worship
The lawsuit targets the Department of Homeland Security and its agencies. "The massive scale of the suit will be hard for them to ignore," said Kelsi Corkran, an attorney from the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University's Law Center, who is the lead counsel for the plaintiffs. She noted that before Donald Trump's presidency, agents needed special authorization to operate in places of worship.
Now, they can act everywhere, which raises concerns. "People fear going to the store, they are avoiding going to church," said Pastor Carlos Malave from the Latino Christian National Network.
Pastor Malave highlighted that there is a deeply rooted fear and distrust toward the government. Churches are increasingly offering online services to protect their congregants. "People fear for the well-being of their families," he added.
The lawsuit is a response to incidents such as the arrest of a man from Honduras outside a church in Atlanta. These events illustrate how the new regulations impact the lives of religious communities in the United States.
