Indiana law enforcement would take a more active role in immigration issues under a bill heard Thursday. Photo from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — The Christian Church Disciples of Christ has provided leaders at its more than 100 Indiana congregations with webinars over the past month on how to identify a legal search warrant and handle law enforcement entering their churches during worship services.

The training sessions stem from concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could raid sanctuaries in search of undocumented immigrants.

In January, ICE agents attempted to enter a Georgia church during a worship service to arrest a Honduran man who had arrived in the U.S. in 2022, applied for asylum, and was awaiting his court date.

The national Disciples of Christ church has now joined 26 other faith groups nationwide in a lawsuit seeking to prevent federal agencies from changing longstanding policies that limit immigration enforcement in places of worship.

The legal action follows the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to roll back a 30-year-old “sensitive location” policy that restricted immigration enforcement in or near houses of worship. The policy change, enacted under the Trump administration, directed officers to use their “discretion along with a healthy dose of common sense” when deciding whether to conduct enforcement actions during ceremonies or at religious sites.

A Homeland Security article published on its website stated that ending the restricting policy would “free (ICE officers) up to go after more illegal immigrants.”

The lawsuit requests a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction to maintain the sensitive-location policy while the case proceeds. A ruling on the injunction has not yet been given.

In a related case, a federal judge in February blocked immigration agents from enforcement operations in Quaker places of worship and other religious groups.

While no ICE raids inside houses of worship have been reported since the policy change, the potential threat has kept some immigrants from attending services.

Some churches have experienced a decline in attendance as immigrant members leave the country over fears of arrest, sometimes leaving their U.S.-born children behind with friends or guardians.

Concerns among Indiana faith groups have intensified after newly elected Gov. Mike Braun issued an executive order in January committing the state to “full cooperation with the federal government” in implementing Trump’s immigration policies.

The order makes Indiana National Guard resources available to ICE and other federal agencies. It also asks state law enforcement to report credible evidence of undocumented individuals with a prior criminal history, those suspected of committing a felony, or those presenting “a significant threat to national security or public safety.”

Last year, Indiana lawmakers granted Attorney General Todd Rokita the authority to sue cities that adopt policies limiting cooperation with ICE. His office is currently litigating against St. Joseph and Monroe counties for alleged non-compliance.

The religious groups behind the federal lawsuit argue that welcoming and caring for immigrants is a fundamental part of their faith. The lawsuit cites Old Testament scripture: “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself.”

“Plaintiffs’ religious scripture, teaching, and traditions offer clear, repeated, and irrefutable unanimity on their obligation to embrace, serve, and defend the refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants in their midst without regard to documentation or legal status,” the lawsuit states.

The issue presents a dilemma for some congregations, as about eight in 10 white evangelical Christian voters supported Trump in the last election, according to an Associated Press poll.