New Bill Introduced To Halt ICE Raids At Churches
Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups are supporting a bill that aims to limit immigration enforcement in places like schools and houses of worship. The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, reintroduced by Rep. Jesús García, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, seeks to protect immigrants by prohibiting enforcement within 1,000 feet of these locations unless there are urgent, exceptional circumstances, such as apprehending a national security threat.
The bill includes protections for healthcare facilities, schools, and religious institutions such as churches, synagogues, and mosques. García argues that the legislation is crucial for immigrant families to access essential services without fear of being detained. He criticized the previous administration’s policy of allowing enforcement in sensitive areas, which he claims has caused fear and anxiety in immigrant communities.
Despite gaining support from numerous Democratic senators and hundreds of religious and secular advocacy groups, the bill faces challenges, as no Republicans have co-sponsored it. This could make it difficult to pass, given the GOP’s control of both chambers of Congress. Many Christian organizations, including the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ, are among the endorsers.
On the other hand, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently rescinded a policy from the Obama era that had restricted immigration enforcement in sensitive areas. Supporters of the policy change argue that schools and churches should not serve as safe havens for criminals. Religious groups, however, have filed lawsuits against DHS, claiming that the policy reversal infringes on their religious freedom and disrupts their worship and outreach activities.
There is also debate within the religious community about the effects of the policy. Some, like Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, believe the policy will not impact legal immigrants or churches, stating that enforcement agents are unlikely to disrupt religious services, though they might monitor areas outside church properties to apprehend individuals with criminal records.