Judge Blocks ICE From "No Warrant Raids" on Churches—for Now

Plus, how faith communities are 'ICE-proofing' their houses of worship

WASHINGTON—On Monday, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang, based in Maryland, issued a ruling that temporarily blocks ICE from conducting immigration enforcement actions at certain houses of worship.

Judge Chuang’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of religious organizations, including Quaker congregations, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship network in Georgia, and a Sikh temple in California.

These groups challenged a Trump administration policy, enacted in January 2025, that removed previous restrictions on ICE operations in "sensitive locations" like churches, schools, and hospitals.