Since the outset of President Trump’s second term, his administration has disregarded longstanding religious protections to target immigrants and activists inside houses of worship.
But people of faith, including Quakers, are pushing back to defend the right to worship freely without fear or intimidation.
As reported by A Public Witness last week, recent court filings revealed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent federal agents into at least five churches in Minnesota to spy on activists.
“Feelings range from anger over this violation of the church’s sacred space … to a sense of vulnerability when the sanctity of faith communities is defiled by the activity of undercover government agents,” said Rev. Cody Sanders, a pastor at a Baptist church that was infiltrated by DHS.
As Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons of the Interfaith Alliance said, this surveillance comes amid “a broader pattern of government-sanctioned desecration of churches.”
“One of Donald Trump’s first actions as president in 2025 was removing protections from houses of worship that restricted ICE activity in sacred spaces,” Graves-Fitzsimmons explained.
In response to that policy, Quaker yearly meetings were among faith groups around the country that sued the Trump administration – and they’re winning.
In a new ruling this week in the case of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. DHS, an appeals court upheld a lower court’s order protecting the plaintiffs’ houses of worship from ICE activities as the case proceeds.
While this preliminary ruling only applies to the groups that joined the lawsuit, it is a positive and hopeful development.
“This decision reaffirms a fundamental promise of religious liberty: every person should be able to gather, worship, pray, and serve their community without fear that immigration enforcement will unlawfully disrupt sacred spaces,” the plaintiffs said in a statement.
“We will continue fighting to ensure that religious freedom remains meaningful for every congregation and every person who walks through our doors.”
Tell Congress: No ICE in Houses of Worship!
Elsewhere
Reflecting on the Anniversary of 9/11
As we look to the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Congress is planning on investing even more in weapons and war – a model of security which does not work. As we reflect on this somber anniversary, we must chart a better way forward for peace. Join us and encourage your members of Congress to reflect and act for peace.
AI and Nukes are a Toxic Mix
This July, Nobel laurates gathered in a convention called by the Roman Catholic church to discuss how to tackle the combined threat of artificial intelligence and nuclear weapons. Following the meeting, they published the Rome Declaration calling for an end to the nuclear and AI arms race, and for responsible development of AI models.
At last year’s Annual Meeting, FCNL’s General Committee discerned additions to our legislative policy about artificial intelligence, calling for care in its development. Nuclear weapons are an even more threatening realm for AI. As FCNL’s Shawn Allen put it back in 2024, “While no-one should have access to the immense destructive power of nuclear weapons, AI in nuclear decision making is uniquely dangerous.”
U.S. Murder Campaign Extending to Land in Latin America
After killing hundreds of people without trial and outside of war in boat strikes, the Trump administration announced that it plans to carry out similar operations on land in Latin America, with the cooperation of national governments.
This is illegal, immoral, and ineffective at stopping the flow of illegal drugs.
Planning for a November Annual Meeting!
It may be a quiet August recess in Washington, but we’re already thinking ahead to November. A preliminary schedule for Annual Meeting (Thursday Nov. 12 – Saturday Nov. 14) is now available on our website!
Our theme of “Deep Roots, Bold Action” speaks very well to the moment of our gathering – returning to where FCNL’s work in Washington began, and meeting just days after a consequential midterm election to plan our work ahead.
