WASHINGTON (RNS) — More than two dozen religious groups pushed back on President Donald Trump’s actions and executive orders, filing two lawsuits a day apart challenging the president’s attempt to effectively freeze the federal refugee resettlement program and defending a rule that prevents immigration law enforcement agencies from raiding houses of worship and other sensitive locations.
On Tuesday (Feb. 11), 27 religious groups filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington arguing that Trump’s decision to rescind a 2011 government rule banning immigration raids in houses of worship, hospitals and schools, violates the groups’ constitutional rights.
The plaintiffs include the Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Union for Reform Judaism, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Latino Christian National Network and Mennonite Church USA.
“Unannounced raids into our sanctuaries and other church spaces presents very real danger to both our members and our communities, most of whom are black and brown people,” said Bishop W. Darin Moore of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in a statement about the suit.
The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, said, “By joining this lawsuit, we are seeking the ability to gather to fully practice our faith and follow Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves.”
In a separate statement to Religion News Service, an Episcopal Church spokesperson said, “We j …