Mennonite Church USA joins lawsuit against government over ICE policies

 

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind.-- Mennonite Church USA is joining more than 20 religious organizations suing the United States government over the Trump administration's reversal of "sensitive locations" immigration policy.

This week, the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law in Washington D.C., filed a lawsuit on behalf of more than two dozen religious organizations. The suit alleges the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, including letting ice agents go into churches, violates first amendment religious freedoms.

The Department of Homeland Security had a "sensitive locations" policy in place, which protected churches and houses of worship from immigration enforcement. But on President Trump's first day in office, he signed an executive order reversing that policy, giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents the green light to go to churches.

ABC57's Annie Kate spoke with Iris de Leon-Hartshorn, the associate executive director of operations for Mennonite Church USA.

"We know that god does not make a judgment of who's documented, who's not documented," she said. "You shouldn't be fearful about having to go to church and that you're being watched."

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, 27 of them, argue this violates their first amendment religious freedom.

The lawsuit reads in part quote, "They bring this suit unified on a fundamental belief: every human being, regardless of birthplace, is a child of god worthy of dignity, care, and love. Welcoming the stranger, or immigrant, is thus a central precept of their faith practices."

But faith groups instead are seeing fewer people coming to church in light of the immigration crackdown happening across the country.

"I do know for a fact that there has been a decrease in people attending because of fear," de Leon-Hartshorn said.

Mennonite Church USA is based in Elkhart.

"Mennonites have been in Elkhart County for a long time, they came in the 1800s. So some of our churches date back to that," said Marty Lehman, moderator-elect for Mennonite Church USA.

She said Elkhart and nearby Goshen are hubs where many members live.

"There are a number of churches in this community, members that are engaged," Lehman said. "Some of the health and human service organizations here in Goshen were started by Mennonite congregations many years ago."

There are 27 plaintiffs on this lawsuit, which can be found here, and right now Mennonite Church USA is the only Michiana plaintiff.