4th Circuit Court Blocks Immigration Arrests at Specific Houses of Worship

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from conducting immigration enforcement actions at more than 1,400 houses of worship across 33 states and the District of Columbia. The ruling maintains a February 2026 district court order that requires DHS to follow 2021 guidelines limiting enforcement in protected areas.

The court found that a January 2025 policy adopted by the Donald Trump administration likely violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the First Amendment. The panel ruled that the policy creates a chilling effect on immigrant attendance at services and substantially burdens the free exercise of religion. Plaintiffs, including the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Sikh Temple Sacramento, and various Quaker meetings, provided evidence that the threat of enforcement disrupted ministries and reduced attendance.

The injunction is narrow and applies only to the plaintiffs; it does not establish a nationwide prohibition or extend to other sensitive locations such as hospitals or shelters. DHS agents may still conduct arrests at these religious sites if they possess a judicial or administrative warrant, or in cases involving national security threats and imminent physical harm. The Trump administration previously argued the 2025 policy was necessary to ensure criminals could not use schools or churches to avoid arrest.