US Quakers block immigration policy
‘This injunction rightly reaffirms the constitutionally protected separation between church and state.'
A Maryland court has blocked a US administration policy allowing immigration officers to enter houses of worship indiscriminately to conduct their operations.
The order from the US District Court of Maryland follows a lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward on behalf of faith groups, including a group of six Quaker Meetings.
The order last week also outlined the ways in which the Trump administration policy is likely to violate rights of religious freedom and expression.
Now 1,700 places of worship in thirty-five states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will be temporarily spared immigration enforcement operations.
‘New York Yearly Meeting is grateful this injunction has been granted and that people who wish to worship with us can once again do so without fear of harassment or arrest by immigration agents,’ said Steve Mohlke, general secretary of New York Yearly Meeting (YM). ‘This injunction rightly reaffirms the constitutionally protected separation between church and state. We hope that all religious congregations will soon be granted similar relief.’
Sarah Gillooly, general secretary of Baltimore YM, said: ‘For over three hundred years, Quakers have been committed to the fundamental right of anyone and everyone to worship freely. Nobody should be afraid of attending a Quaker Meeting or any other house of worship. We are grateful that the court’s decision reflects the importance of these core rights and will not let the government infringe upon them.’
Christie Duncan-Tessmer, general secretary of Philadelphia YM, said that the US is ‘strengthened by people of faith who love their neighbors, no exceptions. Today’s ruling returns some of us to safely holding open the doors to houses of worship to all seekers, as our constitution guarantees. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting looks forward to the next step of removing the barrier of fear for all congregations’.
The six Quaker Meetings are: New York YM; Philadelphia YM; New England YM; Baltimore YM; Adelphi Friends Meeting; and Richmond Friends Meeting.
