Since taking office for the second time, President Trump has made a wide swath of changes regarding immigration, and one of those is that ICE agents are now allowed to enter spaces that were previously prohibited from raids, namely churches and schools.

Although it hasn’t been in the news headlines very much, many congregants across the country have been scared to attend church because of this change in policy, and some churches have experienced a drop in church attendance. 

In November 2025, federal immigration enforcement came to a church in Charlotte, North Carolina, where ICE officers detained people in the yard of a church — a scene that left congregants terrified and fleeing into nearby woods. ICE arrests on church property had not been reported much since the summer, when ICE agents detained people on the grounds of two Catholic churches in the Los Angeles area, and a parishioner was detained in Washington D.C. just three blocks away from the Mass service he was walking to. 

What do these occurrences mean legally — and practically — for churches and worshippers?

1. Places of worship have protections, but they’re limited.
   Immigration agents may enter public areas of a church without a judicial warrant, but they generally cannot lawfully enter private offices or residential clergy space without a judicial (signed) warrant. Administrative ICE documents are not the same as a judicial warrant. Churches can and should refuse requests by ICE agents to enter private spaces without a valid judicial warrant.

2. Prepare a plan now. Faith communities are advised to identify private vs. public spaces in their buildings, train designated staff on how to document encounters, post clear signage where appropriate, and maintain a list of emergency contacts such as immigration attorneys and rapid-response advocates. After any encounter, document officer names, times, and what happened. National advocacy groups and denominational bodies have practical guides churches can use to prepare. If you are part of a church or on staff with one, a great resource has been put together to know “how to respond to ICE in places of worship.” The resource hub prepares church leaders on what they can do to prepare and protect their congregants.

3. You have rights. If you are not a U.S. citizen or green card holder you still have rights. You can access this list and other immigrant rights on the ACLU website. Your rights

• You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents, or other officials. Anything you tell an officer can later be used against you in immigration court.

• If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requests your immigration papers, you must show them if you have them with you.

• If an immigration agent asks if they can search you, you have the right to say no. Agents do not have the right to search you or your belongings without your consent or probable cause.

• If you’re over 18, carry your papers with you at all times. If you don’t have them, tell the officer that you want to remain silent, or that you want to consult a lawyer before answering any questions.

We hope that these situations don’t prevent you from attending your church services, but it is important to be aware of reports of ICE in your community, and if you feel the need, to talk to a trusted staff member of your church about emergency planning. 

If you need assistance with a family member who has been detained, or with filing an immigration petition, you can reach us at (757) 422-8472, or send us a message on our website. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys by clicking on this link.