Federal judge pauses immigration raids in some houses of worship, including gurdwara

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A judge on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, temporarily barred the federal government from conducting immigration enforcement in certain places of worship after faith groups argued that the threat of raids infringed on their religious liberty.

Six Quaker congregations, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and a Sikh temple sued in the U.S. District Court of Maryland last month, challenging the Trump administration’s order overturning a long-standing policy that restricted immigration authorities from making arrests at churches and other “sensitive locations.” The houses of worship argue that the policy change discourages worshipers from attending services because they fear being arrested.

The Department of Homeland Security in January said the move would help officials “enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens.”

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U.S. District Judge Theodore Chang on Monday levied a temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration’s order from taking effect as the lawsuit proceeds because he said the order could violate religious freedom.

“Plaintiffs have provided evidence that the willingness of their congregants to attend worship and participate in ministry services is presently being chilled,” Chang wrote.

Chang denied the plaintiffs’ request for a nationwide halt to immigration enforcement in houses of worship. His order applies only to the Quaker groups, the Georgia-based Baptist denomination and the Sacramento-based Sikh temple that sued.

The Department of Homeland Security had restricted immigration enforcement at “sensitive locations” for years. With some exceptions, agents had to obtain special approval for enforcement actions in certain places, including schools, hospitals, churches and other places of worship; funerals, weddings and other religious ceremonies. In 2021, that list expanded to include other health-care facilities, playgrounds, social service facilities and emergency response sites.

The legal organization Democracy Forward, which represents the houses of worship, celebrated the temporary injunction.

“For decades, the government has recognized that everyone – no matter their immigration status – should be able to attend houses of worship without fear of a warrantless government raid,” Skye Perryman, the nonprofit’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “Religious institutions should not have to go to court to fight for the right to worship and associate freely that is enshrined in our constitution.”

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the judge’s order.

While on the campaign trail last fall, President Donald Trump consistently pledged to carry out mass deportations. His administration issued the directive to allow immigration authorities to operate at churches, schools and hospitals on his first day in office. “Going forward, law enforcement officers should continue to use … discretion along with a healthy dose of common sense,” acting DHS secretary Benjamine C. Huffman said.

The policy received immediate pushback, including from more than two dozen Christian and Jewish groups that filed a separate federal lawsuit over the decision. That suit argues that the move curbs attendance for worship and social services “due to fear of immigration enforcement action.” A judge has not yet ruled in that case.

Meanwhile, schools – another “sensitive location” included in the policy – have sought to reassure immigrant parents that it is safe to send their children to class.

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