News / FJP Releases
FJP and LEAP Warn: DHS Policy Allowing Immigration Enforcement in Houses of Worship is a Direct Threat to Public Safety
October 2, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) — This week, Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP), joined by the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), filed an amicus brief asking a federal appellate court to stop ICE from conducting enforcement actions and arresting migrants in and around houses of worship. The brief urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reverse a district court ruling that upheld the federal government’s elimination of longstanding restrictions on civil immigration enforcement in sensitive locations, including houses of worship. The brief highlights how the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) abrupt policy shift endangers community trust and undermines public safety.
For over 30 years, administrations of both parties recognized that immigration enforcement in or near houses of worship and other sensitive locations, such as schools and hospitals, gravely threatened public safety. Limiting enforcement in these places ensured that victims and witnesses felt safe cooperating with law enforcement and that families could access essential services and enjoy their religious freedoms without fear of government interference. In January, however, DHS revoked these protections, announcing that immigration agents could now conduct arrests in these critical spaces.
“This policy is a threat to public safety,” said FJP Executive Director Aramis Ayala. “When families fear that stepping into a church, synagogue, or mosque could put them or their loved ones at risk of deportation, trust in law enforcement collapses. Victims stay silent, witnesses disappear, and people withdraw from the community. The result is a justice system that cannot solve or prevent crime and communities that are left fractured and vulnerable.”
“As law enforcement professionals, we know public safety depends on trust and cooperation. Allowing immigration enforcement in places like schools, hospitals, and houses of worship destroys that trust, making it harder for us to keep communities safe,” said Lieutenant Diane Goldstein (Ret.), Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership. “People must be able to go to class, see a doctor, or attend religious services without fearing an immigration raid. We urge the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reverse this harmful decision and reaffirm that true safety comes when everyone feels secure in seeking care, education, and community.”
The brief underscores that DHS’s policy weakens civic institutions, which are central to safe and stable communities. In addition to providing a communal space for people to exercise their religion, houses of worship often provide vital services, including shelter, meals, childcare, and counseling, all of which promote public health, strengthen community well-being, reduce crime, and support law enforcement’s work.
FJP and LEAP’s brief calls on the Court to reverse the district court’s decision and recognize that DHS’s new policy is incompatible with effective law enforcement and public safety.
About Fair and Just Prosecution
Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) brings together elected local prosecutors as part of a network of leaders committed to promoting a justice system grounded in fairness, equity, compassion, and fiscal responsibility.
About LEAP
The Law Enforcement Action Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit of police, prosecutors, judges, corrections officials, and other law enforcement officials advocating for criminal justice and drug policy reforms that will make our communities safer and more just. Learn more at https://lawenforcementactionpartnership.org/