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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Injunction Blocking Immigration Enforcement at Houses of Worship
Just the facts
The unanimous decision, written by Circuit Judge Barbara Milano Keenan and joined by Judges G. Steven Agee and Pamela Harris, prevents the Department of Homeland Security from applying its 2025 enforcement guidance to designated places of worship. The legal challenge was brought by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Gurdwara Sahib West Sacramento, and six Quaker Meetings, who alleged the policy substantially burdened communal religious exercise under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The lawsuit responded to the Trump administration's revocation of Biden-era policies that had restricted immigration enforcement near sensitive locations such as churches, schools, and hospitals. Judicial findings noted that the increased risk of immigration enforcement caused drops in worship attendance and created substantial pressure on religious organizations to violate their core tenets.
Why this is news
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit issued a ruling maintaining a preliminary injunction that prohibits federal immigration enforcement at specific religious facilities.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.