Trump admin scores win as judge clears way for ICE enforcement in churches

A Trump administration policy has supported us to enforce immigration and customs (ICE) to carry out enforcement operations in churches and other places of worship despite the lawsuits against them by religious groups.

The American boycott judge, Dabney Frederic, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, denied a request from more than twenty Christian and Jewish organizations to prevent politics. The groups said that they violate religious freedoms and cause a decrease in attendance, especially among immigrants who are concerned about their detention by ICE.

The court only found a few evidence that Ice targets churches or that the change in politics is only to blame a fewer people who attend services. Friedrich noted that only a few enforcement procedures have already occurred in or near religious sites.

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“This evidence indicates that supporters are staying at home to avoid facing ice in their neighborhoods, not because churches or temples are sites with high risks,” Ferdrich wrote in her opinion.

Politics in the case center entered into force on January 20, the first day of Trump in his post.

On that day, the Ministry of Internal Security has canceled guidelines from the Obama era that led to the inhibition of ice agents from conducting arrests in “sensitive sites”, including schools, hospitals and places of worship. Under the new rule, ICE officers no longer need a special approval to dispose of these sites as long as it applies “sound sense” and “estimated authority”.

Religious leaders have said that change has opposed more than three decades of precedents, which aims to protect immigrants and other weak populations from targeting sacred or basic societal areas.

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The court found only a few evidence that the ice targets churches. (Ice)

However, the judge said that the restoration of ancient policy may not change the numbers of attendance, because the procedures for enforcement of the broader immigration may keep people far away.

Other legal challenges to enforce immigration in sensitive sites make their way through the courts.

A federal judge in Maryland has temporarily prevented operations in the religious sites of some groups, including the Cukeers. But a judge in Colorado is a ruling in favor of the administration in a similar case that involves the enforcement of schools.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event on energy production in the Eastern Chamber of the White House April 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/EVAN VUCCI)

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Friedrich’s decision means that the current policy will remain in effect as the lawsuit continues.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.