Judge denies preemptive block on immigration enforcement at worship sites

A federal judge ruled against a preemptive block on the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions at sensitive sites, including places of worship. This follows a lawsuit filed by a coalition of religious organizations challenging a policy that rescinded previous restrictions on arrests at sensitive locations like schools and hospitals.

Judge Dabney L. Freidrich of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia stated that the plaintiffs had not provided sufficient evidence of a credible threat to their places of worship. “Absent evidence of specific directives to immigration officers to target plaintiffs’ places of worship, or a pattern of enforcement actions, the Court finds no credible threat of imminent Enforcement,” Freidrich wrote. The judge concluded that without evidence of being specially targeted, the plaintiffs lacked standing to block the policy.

In a separate case, another federal judge in February placed limitations on immigration enforcement in houses of worship for Quakers and a few other religious groups involved in that lawsuit.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was not involved in either case, although some bishops, such as Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, have publicly criticized the altered sanctuary policies.

Kate Scanlon reports on national matters for OSV News from Washington.

Follow her updates on social media @kgscanlon.