Milwaukee Lutheran group joins lawsuit against Trump over ICE agents in churches (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

A Lutheran group in Wisconsin has joined a national lawsuit seeking to block immigration agents from entering churches and places of worship. The lawsuit involves 11 religious organizations, including the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. They argue that a recent directive from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has led to a decline in church attendance and created fear among congregants.

The directive, issued in January, rescinded a previous policy under the Biden administration that prohibited Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents from acting in “sensitive” areas like churches and schools. A DHS spokesperson stated that the change allows law enforcement to “use common sense” and “not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement.”

Bishop Paul Erickson of the Greater Milwaukee Synod expressed concern over the impact of the directive. He noted that families have shared fears of encountering immigration enforcement at religious services, leading some to avoid worship altogether. The synod, which has over 59,000 baptized members across 115 congregations in seven counties, includes five congregations that offer Spanish-speaking worship services.

Erickson emphasized the disruption to the church’s mission. “This decision to revoke the sensitive locations policy has had a dramatic impact on our ability to express and do the work that God calls us to do,” he said. “Folks are saying it’s just safer to stay home, and that’s prevented people from worshiping and gathering as God calls us to do as a church.”

The lawsuit claims the directive violates the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. It argues that the policy has caused people to “reasonably fear attending houses of worship,” leading to a significant drop in attendance and financial giving at some congregations. One church within the synod has reported a 50 percent decline in attendance, though the specific location was not disclosed.

The complaint highlights the broader consequences of the directive, noting that federal agents have become a common presence at houses of worship as immigration enforcement efforts have intensified. This has created an environment where religious freedom is perceived as under threat, impacting both participation and the financial health of congregations.

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