Action Alert: Tell Congress to Protect Religious Freedom and Hold ICE Accountable
Across the country, immigrant and refugee communities are living in fear—and people of faith are being called to respond. Over the past year, immigration enforcement actions have increasingly entered church grounds and other sacred and community spaces, escalating into mass raids, intimidation, and harassment. In some cases, these actions have included armed enforcement on church property and the targeting of faith leaders themselves.
The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC) is urging people of faith to take immediate action by contacting their members of Congress and calling for accountability and protection. Specifically, BJC is asking Congress to:
Hold ICE accountable for enforcement practices that violate human dignity and undermine religious freedom.
Pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would safeguard places of worship, schools, healthcare facilities, and childcare centers from immigration enforcement.
These concerns are not abstract. Immigration enforcement actions have shattered families, disrupted community life, and created climates of fear that prevent people from gathering, seeking care, or worshiping freely. More than 30 people have died in ICE custody, and recent incidents—including the fatal shooting of Renee Good—underscore the urgency of meaningful oversight and reform.
As Lutherans, we understand religious freedom not merely as a constitutional principle, but as a lived reality rooted in God’s concern for human dignity and neighbor-love. When fear prevents our neighbors from worshiping, gathering, or receiving care, religious freedom itself is diminished.
Congress has both the authority and the responsibility to act. BJC has made it easy to contact your elected officials through a simple online form. Taking just a few minutes to reach out can help protect sacred spaces and affirm the right of all people to live and worship without fear.
You are also encouraged to join—or help start—a local advocacy group committed to protecting religious liberty and resisting Christian nationalism.
Religious freedom is not sustained by words alone. It requires faithful action.
👉 Read the full Action Alert and take action through BJC.
