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US Quaker Meetings Take Action Over ICE* Policy
Suit Filed by Quaker Meetings Against Trump Administration’s New Policy Enabling ICE(*) To Enter Houses of Worship
Democracy Forward’ press release of 27 January 2025 – summary:
“A coalition of Quaker meetings (below) filed suit in the federal court in Maryland to block the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy…that enables federal immigration enforcement officials to enter houses of worship for their immigration enforcement actions.
The policy is already sowing fear within migrant friendly congregations and has led to cancellations in worship services out of fear… The suit alleges that the Trump policy violates the First Amendment and other protections.
For decades, the United States has protected sensitive locations, including houses of worship, from immigration enforcement activities, out of a concern that such activities restrain people from receiving essential services and engaging in essential activities, such as worship. …DHS has reversed course and immigration enforcement operations can now be conducted in such protected areas like churches…limited only by DHS’s instruction that they use “common sense.” The suit alleges that presence of armed government agents at or near meeting houses is disruptive to Plaintiffs’ ability to freely associate and worship…
“A week ago today, President Trump swore an oath to defend the Constitution and yet today religious institutions that have existed since the 1600s in our country are having to go to court to challenge what is a violation of every individual’s Constitutional right to worship and associate freely,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward.
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting: “Since our yearly meeting’s founding in 1682, and since William Penn arrived in Pennsylvania, we have protected space for Quakers and other religious minorities to practice their religion. Our faith requires us to do justice, oppose war and violence, love our neighbors (with no exceptions) and to make decisions with everyone in the room. Everyone’s faith requires being with their faith family. The DHS policy impedes all of these things and invades our sacred space and ability to worship freely…”
New England Yearly Meeting: “…Throughout our history, we have sought to live our faith in ways bearing the fruits of justice, compassion, and religious liberty. Friends believe that every human being has the right to come together to worship with those who share their sacred commitments. The policy adopted by the federal government that we are challenging in this case runs counter to this truth and our congregations’ calling to be welcoming to all who seek to worship with us, and violates the Constitution. We are compelled by our faith to be part of this effort to protect religious liberty and freedom of association in religious and worship settings, and therefore to join in this effort.”
Baltimore Yearly Meeting: “Our religious beliefs call us to build relationships across geographical and theological lines. Our membership in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, DC, and the greater mid atlantic region includes immigrant Friends. The very threat of government officials wearing ICE-emblazoned jackets outside of our religious service will have a significant impact on our communities and ability to practice our faith. We remain committed to our religious command and will use the tools available to defend our membership and faith.”
Adelphi Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends “We remain committed to religious liberty and peace and will use the legal process to ensure that our members and those who meet with us are safe and secure from intimidation, threats, and violence.”
Richmond Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends: “Welcoming and worshipping with all people, including immigrants, is a foundational element of our religious exercise. The federal government’s new policy is anathema to Quaker religious exercise, to all that we believe in, and impinges on our ability to freely exercise.”
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, President of the Interfaith Alliance:
“I welcome this lawsuit and urge the federal judiciary to quickly block Trump’s attack on churches… Our tradition of religious freedom in the United States demands that the government not inhibit the free exercise of religion… It’s not just migrants who are at risk of losing their religious freedom rights under the Trump administration, but Christians and people of faith across the United States who are called to care for immigrants.”
(*) ICE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement