ICE Near Churches: A Year of Fear in U.S. Worship Spaces

A Bulwark analysis argues that after the 2021 DHS/ICE guidelines were rescinded, immigration enforcement expanded to operate on or near church properties in multiple U.S. cities—LA, Chicago, Minneapolis, Charlotte and more—terrorizing worshipers, disrupting services, and driving down attendance. The piece cites incidents near Downey Memorial Christian Church, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Adelaide, Rogers Park’s St. Jerome, Central United Methodist in Charlotte, and other faith sites, with faith leaders describing fear and harm to communities. It also notes that the administration’s rhetoric about protecting worship contrasts with on‑the‑ground enforcement, using Don Lemon’s church‑protest coverage as an emblem of the policy’s perceived contradictions.