S7, Ep. 11: Immigration is a religious freedom issue

How is increased immigration enforcement impacting the right to religious freedom? Should some "sensitive" locations be treated differently? Get an update on the twists and turns of this legal issue that has real world consequences for religious freedom, houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and other key places in our community. Holly and Amanda discuss the change in policy from the Trump administration, and they go in-depth on the legal and policy response – including long-term strategies and short-term solutions. 

SHOW NOTES

Segment 1 (starting at 00:35): A new policy that upended everything

Holly wrote about the change in the sensitive locations policy in her column for our magazine in the spring of 2025: Defending churches and other sensitive locations from government intrusion  

Amanda mentioned the online tracker of incidents: ProtectSensitiveLocations.org

Segment 2 (starting at 07:59): The legal response

Learn more about the specific immigration cases on the immigration page of BJC's website.

You can also visit the website of the Law, Rights and Religion Project to see their report on immigration and religious liberty. 

Baptist News Global shared an update on the lawsuits last week: Sensitive locations lawsuit amended with more concerns

Segment 3 (starting at 26:28): The policy response

BJC supports the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (H.R.1061 / S.455). Want to ask your members of Congress to support the long-term solution? Use our simple form, and we'll send an email from you!

Amanda mentioned the following two articles:

• From PBS Newshour: Trump's deportation agenda is about to get a $70 billion infusion from Congress (via the Associated Press)
• From The Hill: House sends reconciliation bill funding immigration enforcement to Trump's desk by Sudiksha Kochi

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Video of our episodes are now on YouTube! Click here for the season 7 playlist. 

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