MINNEAPOLIS – The mass deportation plan promised by President Donald Trump shows no signs of slowing down after his first week back in office. Church leaders in Minnesota and elsewhere renew their calls for places of worship to be off-limits.
A key difference between ICE raids under the new administration and those in Trump’s first term is that a rule was revoked this month to no longer consider churches and schools “sensitive locations.” From 2011 until now, they were largely shielded from agents entering the site in pursuit of an undocumented person.
Nicholas Tangen is with the Minneapolis Area Synod, which supports local Lutheran parishes, and worries about the potential impact on congregations. He says, “It may have a chilling effect for folks in our communities, not just Christians, but folks of all faith backgrounds. [It] might prevent folks from attending religious services or going to places of worship – places where they’ve found comfort, safety, and community for so long.”
Tangen says for now, his team is trying to limit false rumors while reminding congregants about their rights. ICE agents still need a judicial warrant before entering a private area of a church. The Department of Homeland Security emphasizes that enforcement teams are trusted to use common sense.
Lutheran church leaders say they remain committed to supporting migrant children and families, adding it’s a longstanding Christian mindset to “welcome the stranger.” Tangen says human dignity shouldn’t be lost in the broader debate over immigration policy.
Department of Homeland Security officials noted they’re empowering agents to enforce immigration laws and “catch criminal aliens including murderers and rapists who have illegally come into our country.”
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