A growing list of religious individuals, denominations, movements, congregations, associations, and organizations have been weighing in or filing suit to overturn this administration’s orders and actions.
January 21st
The Right Reverend Mariann Budde, Episcopal bishop at the National Cathedral, speaks directly to the new President: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI4h4zbkNMU
January 24th
Seven evangelical Christian organizations sign a letter to the new administration, asking them to re-instate the protection of “sensitive locations” (including churches) from ICE, and re-instate refugee assistance funding. They are:
- Asian American Christian Collaborative
- Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
- Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
- Faith and Community Empowerment National Association of Evangelicals
- National Latino Evangelical Coalition
- World Relief
Jan 27th
Six Quaker congregations, a Baptist denomination, and a Sikh temple, file suit to restore the protection of places of worship as “sensitive areas” off limits to ICE and immigration raids.
Feb 10th
Three faith-based organizations doing refugee resettlement work–HIAS (Jewish), Church World Service, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest–are parties in the suit challenging the suspension of refugee admission to this country and the freeze in funding resettlement.
The Pope writes a letter to American Bishops criticizing the Trump administration’s new crackdown on immigrants and immigration.
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2025/documents/20250210-lettera-vescovi-usa.html
Feb 11th
Global Health Council v. Trump
HIAS (a Jewish organization resettling refugees) is a plaintiff along with other organizations with funding from USAID, in this suit over the dismantling of USAID.
Mennonite Church USA v. US Dept of Homeland Security
Over two dozen faith-based organizations file suit to over the reversal of the previous policy protecting “sensitive areas” including houses of worship, schools, and hospitals, from immigration raids by ICE. They argue that ICE raids in houses of worship violate their rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and the First Amendment.
The plaintiffs are:
- RHODE ISLAND STATE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES,
- CONVENCION BAUTISTA HISPANA DE TEXAS,
- WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES,
- AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH,
- NORTH CAROLINA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES,
- MENNONITE CHURCH USA,
- NORTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH,
- NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES,
- WISDOM, INC.,
- WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH,
- MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL OF CHURCHES,
- RECONSTRUCTING JUDAISM,
- UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM,
- FRIENDS GENERAL CONFERENCE,
- GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.),
- UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM,
- LATINO CHRISTIAN NATIONAL NETWORK,
- UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION,
- CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN,
- CENTRAL ATLANTIC CONFERENCE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST,
- FELLOWSHIP SOUTHWEST, (Christian)
- GENERAL COMMISSION ON RELIGION AND RACE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH,
- NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH,
- EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
- CENTRAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN RABBIS,
- RABBINICAL ASSEMBLY,
- CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST).
Feb 13th
A dozen religiously-affiliated and interfaith organizations signed onto a letter from 126 organizations, asking Congress to “do everything in your power” to reverse the executive order banning refugees and halting funding for resettlement. They wrote, “Banning refugees is bad for America and for American values.” Those signing on included:
- American Friends Service Committee (Quaker)
- Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quaker)
- HIAS (Jewish)
- JAMAAT – Jews and Muslims and Allies Acting Together
- Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
- Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
- Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
- Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team (Catholic)
- Sojourners (Christian)
- The Episcopal Church
- The Interfaith Center of New York
- Union for Reform Judaism
- UNITED SIKHS
Feb 18th
US Conference of Catholic Bishops vs. Trump
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) files suit against the State Department and Health and Human Services, over the suspension of funding for refugee resettlement.
Civic Action Hub of Maryland 