ICE Detention
In this July 8, 2019, file photo, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detain a man during an operation in Escondido, Calif. The Trump Administration has rescinded ICE's practice of avoiding raids and arrests in churches, schools and hospitals. Four United Methodist units have joined a lawsuit challenging the rule. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Western North Carolina Conference | Feb. 12, 2025
The Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church (WNCC) has joined a lawsuit, along with more than two dozen Christian and Jewish denominations and associations, challenging the federal government’s decision to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enter places of worship without a judicial warrant or exigent circumstances.
Why We Joined This Lawsuit
The mission of the WNCC is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. A central part of our calling is to welcome the stranger, serve those in need, and ensure that our congregations remain open and safe for all who seek spiritual care. However, recent changes to federal policy put this mission in jeopardy. By joining this suit, we are not engaging in partisan politics; we are responding to a policy that does harm to our churches.
For 30 years, ICE adhered to a “sensitive locations” policy that prevented enforcement actions in churches, schools, and hospitals. Recently, that policy was abruptly rescinded, placing our congregations at imminent risk of ICE raids that would disrupt worship, community service, and pastoral care, with several churches at increased risk, whether due to their proximity to ICE offices or the large immigrant populations they serve. These communities now live in fear that coming to church could put them or their loved ones at risk, and a number of our churches are already experiencing a drop in worship attendance and participation in other ministry events.
Our churches are meant to be sanctuaries—not just in name, but in practice. The presence of armed agents conducting warrantless enforcement actions in our sacred spaces is a direct violation of our religious freedoms and our scriptural mandate to care for our neighbors without fear.
Our Theological Conviction
Our commitment to this lawsuit is rooted in Scripture and our faith tradition. The Bible repeatedly calls us to welcome the stranger and provide hospitality without distinction (Leviticus 19:33-34, Matthew 25:35). Jesus himself was a refugee, fleeing persecution as a child (Matthew 2:13-15). As United Methodists, our Book of Discipline affirms that all persons—regardless of immigration status—are welcome in our churches and ministries (¶ 4, ¶ 202, ¶ 214).
“We join with many other Christian traditions and our Jewish neighbors in appealing for the sacredness of our sanctuaries and the integrity of our worshipping communities,” said Bishop Ken Carter, resident bishop of The Western North Carolina Conference. “We seek to be people of peace and hospitality, to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. And we seek to honor the promises made when we baptize, that we are a church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations and races.”
United Methodist churches are not only places of worship but also centers of community support. Many of our congregations provide English classes, food pantries, shelter assistance, and legal aid to immigrants. These ministries are expressions of our faith and essential to our witness as disciples of Christ. If government agents are permitted to enter our churches at will, it will have a profound effect on those who depend on these ministries and may force some congregations to limit their outreach in ways that contradict their calling.
The Legal Case: Protecting Our Religious Freedom
This lawsuit asserts that subjecting houses of worship to ICE enforcement actions without a judicial warrant violates the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The government should not have the power to interfere with our worship, disrupt our ministries, or intimidate those who come through our doors.
We are seeking legal protections that affirm our constitutional rights. The free exercise of religion must include the ability to minister without the threat of government intrusion.
What This Means for Our Churches
By joining this lawsuit, the WNCC is taking a stand to protect not just our own congregations but all faith communities who are at risk under these new policies. Our Conference is committed to ensuring that our churches remain places of welcome, where all people can gather for worship, fellowship, and support without fear.
This is a matter of faith, justice, and the integrity of our ministry. As United Methodists, we must bear witness to a Gospel that calls us to love our neighbors and stand up for the vulnerable. That is why we have taken this step. We stand firm in our belief that our sacred spaces must remain places of peace and sanctuary. Together, we will continue to serve, welcome, and love as Christ commands us to do.
Aimee Yeager is director of communications for the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.