Lutheran church group in Wisconsin joins lawsuit against Trump, DHS

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Greater Milwaukee Synod has joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), specifically targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests at houses of worship nationwide. The decision comes amid concerns over the revocation of a policy that previously prohibited ICE from making arrests at religious institutions.

Bishop Paul Erickson of the ELCA’s Greater Milwaukee Synod explained that the synod’s participation was driven by the impact of the policy change on Spanish-language worshiping communities. “We made the decision after seeing the impact of the revocation of this policy has had on our Spanish-language worshiping communities,” he stated. “That’s what prompted us to join.”

Erickson noted that while some church members expressed opposition to the lawsuit, they represented a minority within the congregation. “The response has mostly been positive,” he said. “Of course, there will always be people with concerns or questions, one of which was, ‘How much is this costing us?’ Well, the lawyers are not charging us to participate in this lawsuit, so we’re not spending any financial resources on this.”

The lawsuit seeks to challenge the administration’s actions, which have led to increased arrests at places of worship. The ELCA’s involvement underscores the denomination’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and upholding the sanctity of religious spaces. This action aligns with the broader theme of protecting the vulnerable, as seen in Proverbs 31:8-9, which calls for advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves.

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