Appeals Court Rules 2-1 for Churches: Sensitive-Locations Immigration Case Sent Back for Reconsideration
Washington — A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled 2-1 on October 20 in favor of multiple churches and other faith groups in Mennonite Church USA v. Department of Homeland Security, reversing a district court's refusal to issue a preliminary injunction and sending the case back for reconsideration, The Christian Post reported on October 21. The dispute centers on the Trump administration's rescission of the Obama-era "sensitive locations" policy, which had limited immigration enforcement at places of worship, schools and similar sites.
Judge Florence Y. Pan, a Biden appointee writing for the majority, said the plaintiffs "likely have standing" because their members face a likely, imminent injury from increased enforcement at places of worship, and that there is "direct evidence that the government intends to increase immigration enforcement at sensitive locations," including the plaintiffs' own congregations. "The government has done the opposite of disavowing" any intent to act near the plaintiffs' places of worship, she wrote.
The faith groups sued under the First Amendment, the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Administrative Procedure Act, asking the court to freeze the policy with a preliminary injunction while the case proceeds. The panel vacated the district court's denial and remanded the injunction motion "for further consideration"; it has not issued a final ruling on the policy's legality.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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