Judge bars warrantless immigration raids on CBF churches

A federal judge in Maryland granted a preliminary injunction to bar immigration agents from conducting warrantless raids on Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches, as well as Quaker assemblies and a Sikh temple.

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang issued the Feb. 24 ruling in the first of two cases religious groups filed to prevent immigration raids in houses of worship after the Trump administration lifted restrictions on enforcement in sensitive locations.

A coalition of groups affiliated with the Society of Friends—Quakers—initially filed the suit in Maryland on Jan. 27, which the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and a Sikh temple in Sacramento, Calif., soon joined.

Later, a broad coalition of more than two dozen religious groups—including Convención Hispana Bautista de Texas and Fellowship Southwest—brought a separate suit. The Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law School filed that suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Likely to suffer irreparable harm

In granting the preliminary injunction, Chuang was acknowledging the plaintiffs were “likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief” and that the parties involved were “likely to succeed on the merits” of the case.

The judge noted as evidence of “irreparable harm” testimony presented by Paul Baxley, executive coordinator of CBF, who said some congregations have reported fewer people attending worship services and participating in programs such as English-as-a-Second-Language classes.

“Notably, one CBF congregation has reported a 66 percent decrease in attendance at its ESL program, while another has reported fewer participants in its low-income ministry activities, including its food pantry and clothing shelter,” the ruling stated.

Plaintiffs in the case asserted they are likely to succeed based on the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

While granting the preliminary injunction, the judge limited it to the named plaintiffs in his court. So, it does not directly affect the religious groups involved in the other suit in the District of Columbia.

Baxley called the ruling “a powerful validation of the values that have defined the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship—a steadfast commitment to religious liberty, local church autonomy, and the clear separation of church and state.”

“For decades, our congregations have faithfully engaged in ministry among immigrants and refugees, offering a bold and courageous witness to the remarkable and relentless love of Christ,” Baxley stated.

“This decision reinforces our effort to restore the sensitive location protections that have allowed our congregations to worship and minister freely. While our work continues, we celebrate this victory as a testament to the bold faith that rises from freedom rather than coercion.”