In a significant legal development, a federal judge in Maryland has issued an order blocking the Trump administration from conducting immigration enforcement actions—including raids and arrests—at several churches, temples, and other places of worship. This decision comes after these religious institutions sued over the controversial new policy.
Unlike recent nationwide restraining orders against Trump administration policies, this specific order by U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang is limited in scope. It applies solely to facilities used by a select group of Quaker, Baptist, and Sikh denominations and congregations that initiated the lawsuit last month.
The Trump administration removed restrictions that the Biden administration had previously imposed on enforcement at "sensitive" sites such as churches, schools, and hospitals. Judge Chuang, appointed by President Barack Obama, argued in a comprehensive 59-page opinion that this change threatens the religious freedom of the groups seeking judicial relief.
"The substantial burden that the Trump administration policy imposes is far from speculative and is already occurring," Chuang stated, referencing reports of decreased attendance at congregations with large immigrant populations since the policy's announcement. He noted, "It is reasonable to expect that such enforcement actions will occur at Plaintiffs’ place of worship, where DHS stated in its press release that 'criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.'"
The lawsuit was filed by Quaker congregations from Philadelphia, Richmond, Va., Maryland, and New England, a Sikh temple in Sacramento, and a coalition of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches based in Georgia.
Judge Chuang, based in Greenbelt, concluded that the policy likely violates these groups' First Amendment right to freedom of association and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This federal law restricts government actions that infringe upon religious practices.
Chuang highlighted that his legal analysis is specifically focused on the houses of worship that welcome immigrants, irrespective of their legal status, making them potential targets for enforcement under the Trump administration's policy.
"In issuing this injunction, the Court does not question the necessity of law enforcement conducting operations in or near places of worship when required," Chuang stated. "However, the court finds that at this early stage of the case, the 2025 policy’s lack of meaningful limitations or safeguards fails to meet constitutional and statutory requirements."
