Quakers sue over Trump order allowing immigrant arrests at religious sites

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), Shea Taylor (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

The Department of Homeland Security faces lawsuits from five Quaker congregations over last week’s policy reversal allowing immigration agents to conduct searches and arrests in “sensitive areas” like churches and schools. The Quaker groups, known as the Religious Society of Friends, said the policy change harms congregations by deterring immigrants from worshipping in person, thus violating First Amendment rights.

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The lawsuit, filed Monday, said Quaker worship involves multiple congregants sitting together in silence to await a message from God.

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The Quakers are the first religious organization to challenge the new policy. The DHS, now led by newly confirmed former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, said it does not comment on pending litigation.

Tags: Department of Homeland Security, Donald Trump, First Amendment, Religion, Religious entities, Religious Freedom

[craig nigrelli]

MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS FACING LAWSUITS FROM FIVE QUAKER CONGREGATIONS — OVER LAST WEEK’S POLICY REVERSAL ALLOWING IMMIGRATION AGENTS TO CONDUCT SEARCHES AND ARRESTS IN “SENSITIVE AREAS”, SUCH AS CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

THE QUAKER GROUPS — KNOWN AS THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS — SAY THE POLICY CHANGE HARMS THEIR CONGREGATIONS BY DETERRING IMMIGRANTS FROM WORSHIPPING IN-PERSON, THUS VIOLATING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

THE LAWSUIT, FILED YESTERDAY, SAYS QUAKER WORSHIP INVOLVES MULTIPLE CONGREGANTS SITTING TOGETHER IN SILENCE TO AWAIT A MESSAGE FROM GOD.

THE QUAKERS APPEAR TO BE THE FIRST RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION TO CHALLENGE THE NEW POLICY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, NOW LED BY NEWLY CONFIRMED Former SOUTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM, SAYS IT DOES NOT COMMENT ON PENDING LITIGATION.