Several Christian and Jewish groups have filed a lawsuit against a Trump administration measure that expanded the freedom of immigration agents to make arrests in places of worship. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, argues that this policy is generating fear among immigrants, reducing church attendance and undermining assistance programs. The plaintiffs allege that the measure infringes on their religious freedom by hindering their work of welcoming and supporting migrants, regardless of their legal status, according to the Associated Press.

Among the groups that have joined the process are the Episcopal Church, the Union for Reform Judaism, the Mennonites and the Universalist Unitarians, as well as several Christian and Jewish denominations representing millions of believers. The lawsuit expands on arguments already presented in another lawsuit filed by Quaker congregations and other religious entities, currently pending in court.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), named as a defendant, defended the policy by saying its goal is to prevent criminals from using churches as a refuge, ensuring greater freedom of action for immigration forces. In a recent memo, the Justice Department argued that the request for an injunction against the measure is based on hypothetical fears and highlighted that immigration enforcement in places of worship was already allowed before the new directive.

Also according to the publication, the religious groups that filed the lawsuit highlight that their traditions oblige them to welcome immigrants, regardless of their documentation, and that Trump's policy poses a direct threat to their assistance activities. Religious leaders reported that the change is already affecting their congregations, with immigrants fearing to attend services and access social services offered by churches.

The Trump administration's immigration crackdown has been the target of criticism not only from religious leaders in the U.S., but also from Pope Francis, who has warned of the consequences of mass deportation. However, some legal experts and conservative advocates argue that places of worship should not serve as a refuge for those who break the law, defending the new policy as a legitimate measure of immigration enforcement.

The legal dispute raises a broader debate about the relationship between religious freedom and immigration enforcement, with implications for both immigrant rights and the role of religious institutions in American society.