Convención Hispana Bautista de Texas and Fellowship Southwest joined more than two dozen religious organizations in a lawsuit challenging a policy change allowing immigration officers to enter churches and other sensitive locations.
On Jan. 20, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security directive rescinded guidelines for Customs and Border Protection and for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers that previously restricted enforcement in sensitive locations such as houses of worship, schools and hospitals.
The lawsuit asserts the change in policy for immigration enforcement violates both the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The suit also claims allowing immigration enforcement at places of worship imposes a substantial burden on the plaintiffs’ free exercise of religion and does not reflect the “least restrictive means” to accomplish “a compelling government interest.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Ken Camp and originally published by Baptist Standard.
