In a press release in late July, Democracy Forward announced that, “A large coalition of faith groups filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secretary Kristi Noem over the sweeping and aggressive immigration policy that gives free rein to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to conduct enforcement actions in and around houses of worship and other ‘sensitive locations.’ The lawsuit argues the policy violates the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act.“

WCC Member Judicatory, the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the ELCA, is among the faith groups filing the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by Democracy Forward, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and Gilbert LLP on behalf of: New England Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Greater Milwaukee Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Southwest California Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Southwestern Texas Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Sierra Pacific Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; San Francisco Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends; Pacific Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends; North Pacific Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends; American Baptist Churches USA; Alliance of Baptists; and Metropolitan Community Churches. The national settings of WCC Member Judicatories, the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin, and Metropolitan Community Churches are also involved in this lawsuit.

In his pastoral letter about the lawsuit, Bishop Paul D. Erickson noted that “The decision to join this lawsuit was made by the synod council, meeting on June 28, and is based on our commitment to walk with our immigrant neighbors and the experiences of our five congregations that offer worship services in Spanish. This policy has had a significant, harmful impact on the ability of our congregations to worship and serve as we are called by Christ to do.” This statement by the Bishop is included in the filing: “We are witnessing an unprecedented assault on religious liberty, as ICE raids have created a climate of fear and division, preventing people of all faiths and citizenship statuses from gathering for prayer and receiving vital services. Silence in the face of such oppression is simply not an option.”

Bishop Erickson concludes his letter with a request for prayers “for this process, for our nation, for our congregations, and most importantly, for those whose lives have been upended and who are unable to enjoy the freedoms we believe everyone is entitled to, regardless of citizenship status, language, identity, orientation or anything else. We are all created in the image and likeness of God, and we must work together to build a society that more closely reflects God’s will for all of creation.”

— This piece was made available by the Wisconsin Council of Churches. Find more at www.wichurches.org.