Washington, D.C., January 30, 2025—As news of church services being interrupted by the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is reported, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) is calling on the Trump Administration, specifically the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to reinstate its policy not to enter sensitive locations immediately.
NCC is deeply concerned about the impact of rescinding the policy not to enter sensitive locations such as churches, hospitals, and schools will have, and how it is already affecting faith communities. Some churches are moving services online and at least one pastor reported that he was preaching when ICE knocked on the door. One of the foundational principles of our country is the freedom to exercise one’s religion—or no religion—without fear of punishment or interference as well as the right to peaceably assemble. ICE agents entering sensitive locations will be extremely disruptive and compromise the sanctity and integrity of these spaces.
Violating sacred and safe space is not an acceptable way to enforce immigration laws that are outdated and in need of reform. It will cause fear and terror in places for worship, care, and learning, among other sensitive locations. It will only make people afraid to gather for worship, go to school, or even receive much-needed medical attention.
Once acted upon, these actions cannot be undone and will have lasting detrimental impacts on the most vulnerable, especially our children. School children are already traumatized by active shooter drills and the possibility of having to hide in classrooms because a classmate brings an automatic weapon to school with plans to use it. Allowing ICE agents to enter school campuses will further infringe upon these learning environments.
The negative impacts will go far beyond those who ICE is looking to detain and/or deport. It will affect families and communities across this country, even those not being targeted. These are certainly not markers of a vital and healthy democracy.
As stated by NCC President and General Secretary Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, “Instead of threats and intimidation, this Administration has an opportunity to embrace what President Abraham Lincoln called the ‘better angels of our nature’ by rejecting this kind of unnecessary breach of safe and sacred space.”
She added, “We urge the President and his Administration to re-establish a similar sensitive locations policy, and we call on members of Congress to quickly and expeditiously work together to pass just, fair and comprehensive immigration reform.”