Court upholds limits on immigration enforcement at houses of worship

On Tuesday, a U.S. appeals court maintained an order that curtails federal immigration enforcement activities at eight houses of worship belonging to the Quaker, Sikh, and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship communities. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, comprising three judges, backed these religious institutions, asserting that federal immigration operations might disrupt their religious functions.

The ruling was a victory for the eight houses of worship and challenged a policy initiated by President Donald Trump's administration. The plaintiffs claimed that the Trump administration's policy contravened the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. However, the administration contended that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's policy did not impede their worship or ministry services.

The court, however, found that the Department of Homeland Security had made it clear its intention to target houses of worship in upcoming immigration enforcement actions. This stance was underscored by a statement from an agency spokesperson in January 2025, affirming that DHS aims to prevent people from concealing in America's schools and churches to evade arrest.

The court's opinion was shared by U.S. Circuit Judges Pamela Harris and G. Steven Agee. This case is among several similar legal challenges that religious groups across the nation have initiated.