A three-judge panel of the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a lower-court order restricting federal immigration enforcement at eight houses of worship affiliated with Quaker, Sikh and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship traditions.
The decision, written by U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Milano Keenan, found that a policy adopted during the Trump administration likely violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The panel, which also included Judges Pamela Harris and G. Steven Agee, concluded that the plaintiffs—including sites in or near immigrant communities—faced a real and substantial threat of enforcement actions at their places of worship.
The Trump administration had argued that the Department of Homeland Security’s policy did not obstruct worship or ministry services, and that plaintiffs could not demonstrate the policy would deter immigrants from attending services. Judge Keenan cited a January 2025 DHS statement in which an agency spokesperson said the policy would ensure that "people will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest," reinforcing the court’s finding that enforcement at such sites remained a credible concern.
The ruling marks the latest legal challenge to immigration enforcement policies following the 2024 election cycle and underscores ongoing tensions between federal enforcement priorities and protections for religious institutions.
