Immigration Enforcement at Churches and Other 'Sensitive Locations'

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Creator: MigrantUSA
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On February 13, 2026, Judge Saylor granted a preliminary injunction barring DHS and ICE from carrying out warrantless immigration-enforcement actions — absent exigent circumstances — inside the plaintiffs' church buildings, at their entrances, on adjacent church property (such as parking lots), at their religious-education and social-service facilities, or within 100 feet of their church entrances. The order also bars setting up checkpoints to question people on their way to or from those churches. The protection covers only the named plaintiff faith communities that showed concrete harm — a coalition of ELCA Lutheran synods, American Baptist Churches USA, the Alliance of Baptists, and Metropolitan Community Churches — not all houses of worship nationwide. It does not block enforcement carried out under a warrant (administrative or judicial) or in a genuine emergency. The case remains in active litigation.

Immigration Enforcement at Churches and Other “Sensitive Locations”

Status: Blocked by court — New England Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (No. 4:25-cv-40102 (D. Mass.))

Next step: This is an interlocutory preliminary injunction, not a final decision. The case continues in the District Court toward a ruling on the merits, and the government may appeal the injunction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. No trial or final-ruling date has been set.

Verified against the primary source as of 2026-07-25 — status can change with a single court ruling. Official source.

What’s happening

On February 13, 2026, Judge Saylor granted a preliminary injunction barring DHS and ICE from carrying out warrantless immigration-enforcement actions — absent exigent circumstances — inside the plaintiffs’ church buildings, at their entrances, on adjacent church property (such as parking lots), at their religious-education and social-service facilities, or within 100 feet of their church entrances. The order also bars setting up checkpoints to question people on their way to or from those churches. The protection covers only the named plaintiff faith communities that showed concrete harm — a coalition of ELCA Lutheran synods, American Baptist Churches USA, the Alliance of Baptists, and Metropolitan Community Churches — not all houses of worship nationwide. It does not block enforcement carried out under a warrant (administrative or judicial) or in a genuine emergency. The case remains in active litigation.

Who it affects

Immigrants who attend, work at, or use services from the specific congregations of the plaintiff faith groups (ELCA Lutheran synods, American Baptist Churches USA, the Alliance of Baptists, and Metropolitan Community Churches). At those churches the order limits warrantless ICE activity in and immediately around the property. It does NOT protect houses of worship nationwide: outside these plaintiffs’ churches, the January 2025 rescission of the federal “protected areas” (sensitive-locations) guidance still stands, so there is no special federal limit on immigration enforcement at other churches, schools, or hospitals. Even at the protected churches, enforcement under a warrant or in a genuine emergency is still allowed.

How it got here

Jan 20, 2025 The Acting DHS Secretary rescinded the long-standing "protected areas" (sensitive-locations) guidance that had limited immigration enforcement at houses of worship, schools, and hospitals.
Jul 28, 2025 A coalition of faith groups — ELCA Lutheran synods, American Baptist Churches USA, the Alliance of Baptists, and Metropolitan Community Churches — sued DHS in federal court in Massachusetts.
Sep 9, 2025 The court held a hearing on the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction.
Feb 13, 2026 Judge Saylor granted a preliminary injunction limiting warrantless ICE enforcement in and immediately around the named plaintiffs' churches; the relief was limited to the plaintiffs who showed concrete harm.

What to watch next

This is an interlocutory preliminary injunction, not a final decision. The case continues in the District Court toward a ruling on the merits, and the government may appeal the injunction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. No trial or final-ruling date has been set.

Official sources

This page is general information about ongoing litigation, not legal advice. A case’s status can change with a single ruling, and outcomes can turn on facts specific to each person. For advice on a specific situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.

Frequently asked questions

What is this case about?

Immigrants who attend, work at, or use services from the specific congregations of the plaintiff faith groups (ELCA Lutheran synods, American Baptist Churches USA, the Alliance of Baptists, and Metropolitan Community Churches). At those churches the order limits warrantless ICE activity in and immediately around the property. It does NOT protect houses of worship nationwide: outside these plaintiffs’ churches, the January 2025 rescission of the federal ‘protected areas’ (sensitive-locations) guidance still stands, so there is no special federal limit on immigration enforcement at other churches, schools, or hospitals. Even at the protected churches, enforcement under a warrant or in a genuine emergency is still allowed.

Where does it stand right now?

On February 13, 2026, Judge Saylor granted a preliminary injunction barring DHS and ICE from carrying out warrantless immigration-enforcement actions — absent exigent circumstances — inside the plaintiffs’ church buildings, at their entrances, on adjacent church property (such as parking lots), at their religious-education and social-service facilities, or within 100 feet of their church entrances. The order also bars setting up checkpoints to question people on their way to or from those churches. The protection covers only the named plaintiff faith communities that showed concrete harm — a coalition of ELCA Lutheran synods, American Baptist Churches USA, the Alliance of Baptists, and Metropolitan Community Churches — not all houses of worship nationwide. It does not block enforcement carried out under a warrant (administrative or judicial) or in a genuine emergency. The case remains in active litigation. This is an interlocutory preliminary injunction, not a final decision. The case continues in the District Court toward a ruling on the merits, and the government may appeal the injunction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. No trial or final-ruling date has been set.

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General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.