A lawsuit has been filed by a coalition of Quaker groups against the Trump administration, aiming to stop immigration authorities from conducting raids on houses of worship to find criminal migrants.
Filed in the US district court of Maryland, the lawsuit argues that the Trump administration’s decision to allow immigration raids in churches goes against the religious group’s First Amendment rights.
The lawsuit, brought by five Quaker groups and the Democracy Forward Foundation, highlights the importance of diversity in worship for Quakers and how deterring immigrants from attending Quaker meetings would interfere with their religious exercise.
The lawsuit challenges a recent directive issued by former acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman, which revoked guidelines preventing immigration enforcement actions in sensitive areas such as churches.
The Quakers’ lawsuit is the first of its kind filed by a religious group against the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
President Trump’s administration has been focused on removing criminal migrants in the country illegally, with a strong emphasis on cracking down on illegal immigration.
The lawsuit names DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as a defendant and is represented by the Democracy Forward Foundation.
President and CEO of Democracy Forward, Skye Perryman, expressed concern over the violation of constitutional rights to worship and associate freely and emphasized the importance of protecting religious liberty.
