Key Takeaways
- President Trump’s 2025 repeal of the “sensitive locations” policy allows ICE to conduct enforcement at churches, schools, and hospitals.
- Latino evangelical churches report up to 20% declines in attendance, citing fears of ICE actions and collateral arrests.
- Churches are creating crisis plans, hosting online services, and joining lawsuits to restore protections for sensitive locations.
Hispanic churches and other ethnic congregations are grappling with significant challenges after recent changes to U.S. immigration enforcement policies. Since President Trump issued executive orders in January 2025, repealing the 2011 “sensitive locations” policy, fear and uncertainty have spread through immigrant communities. This policy had previously prohibited Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting enforcement actions at certain places like churches, schools, and hospitals. The removal of these protections has deeply affected faith communities with large immigrant populations.
One of the most visible impacts of this policy shift has been on attendance at worship services. Many church leaders have reported significant declines in attendance, with some congregations seeing drops of up to 20%. This is particularly evident in Latino evangelical churches, where congregants fear potential raids during services. Pastor Gabriel of The Gathering, a Latino-led church in Orlando, described the atmosphere as tense and alarming, stating that the policy changes have “sent a chill up the spine of the Latino evangelical church.”
Some faith leaders have resorted to locking their church doors during services, fearing an unexpected entry by immigration agents. Others, like the Lincoln United Methodist Church in Chicago, have moved their Spanish-language services entirely online. They cited nearby ICE activity and threats from anti-immigrant groups as reasons for this precaution. Livestreaming has become a way to ensure that worshippers can participate while feeling safer in their own homes.
The challenges go far beyond falling attendance figures. Congregants are now hesitant to engage in typical church-related activities, such as community service initiatives or visiting church food pantries. This hesitancy is not limited to undocumented immigrants alone. Mixed-status families—where some members are citizens or permanent residents while others are undocumented—are also feeling the pressure. Fear has become a significant barrier, even for long-term residents with no criminal history.
In Latino evangelical churches, the emotional toll of these policy changes is especially pronounced. Pastor Esteban Rodriguez, who leads Centro Cristiano El Pan de Vida in Florida, explained that these congregations function like “a big family.” This familial connection is part of their mission, which emphasizes embracing everyone, regardless of immigration status. However, this welcoming approach could lead to legal risks. While laws regarding churches providing sanctuary to undocumented immigrants remain ambiguous, there is ongoing debate about whether religious freedom protections can shield them.
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) has weighed in on the potential legal implications. According to Thomas A. Saenz, the group’s president, churches may not face widespread raids, but there could be more targeted actions against individuals attending services. This has only compounded anxiety within immigrant communities, leaving them unsure of when or where enforcement might happen.
ICE’s use of “collateral arrests” is another source of fear. Collateral arrests occur when ICE agents detain individuals who happen to be in the area of an ongoing enforcement action, even if those individuals are not the original targets and have no criminal background. The possibility of such arrests has made many immigrants cautious about attending gatherings, including church services.
In response to these challenges, many faith organizations are taking proactive measures to address the needs of vulnerable members in their congregations. Some churches are preparing contingency plans, such as designating lay leaders to take over duties if clergy members are detained or deported. Others are informing congregants of their legal rights while connecting them to immigration attorneys for assistance. Specific guidance on how to respond to ICE visits has also been developed. For example, the United Methodist Church advises congregations to create crisis plans and designate a single point of contact to communicate with immigration officers if the need arises. Practical resources, such as lists of local immigration attorneys and advocacy organizations, are also being encouraged.
Broader advocacy efforts have also gained momentum. On February 10, 2025, a lawsuit was filed by a coalition of Christian organizations, Jewish groups, and denominational bodies, including the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. The lawsuit challenges President Trump’s decision to remove protections for houses of worship from immigration enforcement. Religious leaders are calling for a restoration of policies that prevent ICE actions in sensitive places like churches. They see this as aligning with their religious principles, which often emphasize welcoming immigrants and refugees. Bishop Julius C. Trimble of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society commented during a recent online event, “Jesus does not give us the example of building walls and excluding the poor and the sojourner on the move.”
While Hispanic churches have been particularly affected, other ethnic congregations have also felt the impact. Faith communities composed of immigrants from Haiti 🇭🇹, Cuba 🇨🇺, Venezuela 🇻🇪, and Nicaragua 🇳🇮 are also facing the ripple effects of these enforcement actions. The diversity of immigrant congregations across the U.S. highlights how wide-reaching the consequences of these policy changes have become.
The complexities are especially pronounced in Latino evangelical churches, which often hold conservative social values, particularly on topics like abortion. Yet, many of these churches are finding themselves in conflict with conservative political policies on immigration. Reconciling their support for immigrant rights with other aspects of their political identity has led to deep conversations within these communities.
Despite some church leaders, like Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, expressing hope that enforcement will focus solely on serious criminals, skepticism remains widespread. For many immigrants, the broad nature of the current enforcement guidelines creates significant fear, making it hard to believe assurances that only violent or dangerous individuals will be targeted.
As this new reality unfolds, churches are rapidly adapting. Many hope for a return to the prior protections for sensitive locations, while continuing to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Faith leaders remain committed to providing spiritual care and practical support to all who seek it within their congregations.
The effects of these immigration policies stretch far and wide. From declining attendance and legal uncertainties to moral dilemmas over how best to serve their communities, Hispanic churches and other ethnic congregations are navigating a challenging and constantly changing environment. As these communities adjust and advocate for fairer policies, organizations such as VisaVerge.com continue to monitor developments, providing timely updates and analysis of immigration issues.
To learn more about immigration enforcement policies and related updates, visit the official ICE webpage. This resource offers important guidance and information for individuals and organizations affected by recent changes, helping them better understand their rights and responsibilities.
Only time will tell how long this turbulent chapter for immigrant faith communities will last. For now, the resilience of these churches demonstrates their determination to stand with those in their congregations despite the obstacles. Churches remain not just places of worship but also havens of hope for immigrant families facing uncertain times.
Learn Today
Sensitive locations policy → A now-repealed rule that barred immigration enforcement at places like schools, churches, and hospitals.
Mixed-status families → Families with members of different immigration statuses, such as citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented individuals.
Collateral arrests → The detention of individuals who are not the original enforcement targets but happen to be nearby during immigration operations.
Sanctuary → A protective practice where churches or other spaces shelter undocumented immigrants from immigration enforcement.
Advocacy organizations → Groups that work to support and advance the rights of specific communities, such as immigrants, through legal aid or policy reform.
This Article in a Nutshell
Hispanic churches face dwindling attendance and heightened fear as U.S. immigration raids target sensitive locations like places of worship. Once sanctuaries of community and faith, these churches now adapt with online services, legal education, and advocacy. Amid uncertainty, they remain steadfast, embodying hope and resilience for immigrant families navigating unprecedented challenges.
— By VisaVerge.com
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