4th Circuit Upholds Injunction Barring ICE Enforcement at Houses of Worship

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to uphold a district court injunction barring DHS agents from immigration enforcement 'at or near' more than 1,400 houses of worship across 33 states and D.C., in a suit brought by six Quaker yearly meetings, the Sikh Temple Sacramento, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship after DHS rescinded the 'sensitive locations' policy in January 2025. Senior Judge Barbara Milano Keenan found the government likely violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. DHS said the ruling would not 'tie the hands' of enforcement; Democracy Forward called it a preservation of protections while litigation continues.