Quaker Groups File Lawsuit Over End of ICE Restrictions on Arrests at Houses of Worship
The lawsuit is believed to be the first legal challenge from a faith-based organization against the policy change.
A coalition of Quaker congregations has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security over the recent reversal of a policy that restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from conducting operations in sensitive locations such as houses of worship, hospitals, playgrounds, and schools without prior supervisory approval.
The policy, which had been upheld across multiple administrations, including during President Donald Trump's first term, was rescinded last week. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Maryland on Monday, argues that the mere threat of ICE enforcement in religious spaces deters congregants, particularly those from immigrant communities, from attending services. The suit contends that such actions infringe on the constitutional right to freely worship.
The Quaker groups are the first faith-based organization to challenge the policy change in court. Faith leaders, local government officials, and educators have voiced concerns over the reversal, citing its impact on communities that rely on these spaces for safety and support.
“A week ago today, President Trump swore an oath to defend the Constitution, yet now religious institutions that have been in place for centuries are being forced to seek legal recourse to protect the constitutional right to worship freely,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which is representing the Quaker groups in the case.
Perryman emphasized that the lawsuit is about more than just houses of worship with sanctuary programs. “The troubling nature of this policy goes beyond just places offering sanctuary—it opens the door for ICE to enter religious spaces at will,” she explained.
Noah Merrill, secretary of the New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, one of the plaintiffs, expressed concern over the policy’s impact on Quaker communities. "Our meetings for worship are meant to be sanctuaries and safe havens," Merrill said in an email to NBC News. "This new policy creates unnecessary anxiety and fear, undermining our ability to gather freely, and we believe it violates our religious freedom."
The lawsuit references the longstanding policy protecting sensitive locations from immigration enforcement, which dates back to the early 1990s. The policy was designed to allow undocumented individuals to engage in essential activities, such as attending school or visiting the hospital, without the fear of deportation, thus benefiting the broader community.
The plaintiffs in the case include several regional umbrella organizations representing Quaker congregations across the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.
Despite the policy change, P.J. Lechleitner, who served as acting ICE director until last week, downplayed the likelihood of ICE raids in places of worship. “I don’t think you’re going to see large-scale operations targeting churches or schools unless there’s a specific operational or public safety need,” he told NBC News.
As the case moves forward, it could have significant implications for how immigration enforcement intersects with religious freedoms in the U.S.