Federal Judge Dismisses Church Lawsuit Against Trump-Era ICE Policy on Arrests Near Churches
A federal judge has ruled against churches challenging the Trump administration’s controversial policy, which allows immigration arrests near places of worship. Judge Dabney Friedrich dismissed the lawsuit, stating the plaintiffs failed to prove they had suffered significant harm. Concerns like reduced church attendance were deemed too speculative to warrant legal action.
The policy in question reversed a Biden-era rule that had restricted ICE enforcement near sensitive locations such as churches and schools. While churches argued that the policy led to empty pews, the judge noted that broader immigration actions might be contributing to this decline, not just enforcement near religious sites.
The ruling centered on the plaintiffs’ lack of legal standing, rather than a direct assessment of the policy’s legality. This decision stands in contrast to a similar case in Maryland, where a judge blocked ICE enforcement near certain religious locations.
