(RNS) — A group of religious organizations and faith leaders in Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging the agency is violating their religious freedom by denying them access to immigrant detainees at a local federal building.
The lawsuit was filed Monday, Feb. 23, by the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ and the Rev. Christopher Collins, a Jesuit priest. It alleges the government’s refusal to allow faith leaders access to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, which houses the local offices of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is a violation of their rights under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
“Pastoral care is the heart and soul of what our Pastors and Deacons are called to provide in their congregations and around the community. We walk together, listening, praying, guiding, and offering the peace and presence of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Jen Nagel, of the ELCA’s Minneapolis Area Synod, said in a statement. “This is particularly important during times of stress, grief, isolation, and transition.”
Clergy have been denied access to Whipple as recently as Monday morning, according to Irina Vaynerman, CEO of Groundwork Legal, one of the law firms representing the plaintiffs along with the firm Saul Ewing.
“Faith leaders and clergy across the state have been attempting to access the Whipple building since the beginning of Operation Metro Surge,” Vaynerman said in an interview, referring to the immigration enforcement campaign that beg …
