A coalition of Quaker congregations has taken legal action against the Department of Homeland Security, following a recent decision to lift a policy established in 2011 that prohibited Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in sensitive locations such as schools and places of worship. The five Quaker congregations filed their lawsuit in federal court, urging President Trump to restore the previous policy, asserting that the ability to participate in communal worship is essential not only for their community but is integral to the essence of worship itself.
The lawsuit articulates that the presence of armed ICE agents outside their religious services disrupts worship and creates an atmosphere of fear among congregants. It highlights that such intimidation especially impacts immigrant families, discouraging them from attending religious gatherings. Represented by the nonprofit organization Democracy Forward, the Quakers seek a swift legal response to what they claim is an unlawful policy infringing on their First Amendment rights.
Skye Perryman, the president and CEO of Democracy Forward, emphasized the historical importance of Quaker meetings in advocating for religious liberty. He pointed out the contradiction of President Trump's recent oath to uphold the Constitution while simultaneously allowing policies that infringe on fundamental rights to worship freely. Moreover, this lawsuit comes amidst a backdrop of other legal challenges to the administration's immigration practices, including actions related to birthright citizenship and other federal raids occurring in various states.
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