Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Overview
Overview
A group of Quaker meetings sued DHS to prevent the new policy that allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement to conduct immigration enforcement inside of houses of worship and religious gatherings. The plaintiffs allege that the policy undermines their constitutionally granted religious freedom.
The Issue
Issue
Whether the DHS policy permitting ICE enforcement in houses of worship and religious gatherings violates the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
The Rules
Rule
The Free Exercise Clause protects religious exercise from substantial government burden, and strict scrutiny (or RFRA's compelling-interest standard) applies when a policy targets or substantially burdens sincere religious practice. The government must demonstrate a compelling interest and that the burden is narrowly tailored.
The Application
Analysis
Plaintiffs argue the ICE enforcement policy substantially burdens their religious practice by chilling worship gatherings and violating the sanctuary traditionally afforded to houses of worship in Quaker tradition. DHS must show that immigration enforcement in religious spaces serves a compelling governmental interest and uses the least restrictive means to achieve it.
The Conclusion
Conclusion
The case is active before Judge Theodore D. Chuang in the U.S. District Court for Maryland, with the plaintiffs seeking injunctive relief to prevent enforcement of the policy pending resolution of their claims.
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