February 24, 2025
MLFA supports the ruling from a federal court in Maryland today, barring ICE officials from conducting raids in or near places of worship related to those who brought this specific lawsuit.
While this is not a nationwide injunction or applicable to all, the reasoning is the same for all and we hope to see more and broader rulings like this in the near future. Free exercise of religion remains protected by the Constitution, and no Executive Order can negate or lawfully chill that.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
For over 30 years, the United States government has imposed various limitations and safeguards on the execution of immigration enforcement actions in or near places of worship. In light of the First Amendment’s protections relating to religious exercise, such limitations served to mitigate the potential collision between the interests of government and religion that would inevitably arise from intrusions by armed law enforcement officers into churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other places of worship.
On January 20, 2025, the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) abruptly removed all such limitations and safeguards and instead left decisions on whether to conduct such enforcement actions to the unilateral discretion of individual officers.
Three different faith communities have now challenged this action.
Read More:
United States District Court of Maryland
