Can followers of Jesus be neutral in a situation of injustice? There are important moments like now for the Church to stand in solidarity with “the least of these.”
ICE Cold
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the US has made headlines internationally for their brutal and indiscriminate treatment of immigrants, both legal and illegal.
You may recall the image of Monica Moreta-Galarza who was assaulted by ICE agents while her husband was being arrested. She and her family have open asylum claims, according to US Rep. Dan Goldman, who are here “lawfully but are being targeted by ICE regardless.”
Jennifer Ibañez Whitlock, with the National Immigration Law Center, points out the sweeping raids have instilled a “persistent mental anxiety” within the immigrant community
“Even if you’ve got your papers, even though you’re a US citizen, you have to check over your shoulder and that’s having a pretty negative impact on people mentally. And then that translates to a fear or flight response that happens when you do encounter them.”
The administration refers to illegal immigrants “as being ‘the worst of the worst,’ dangerous, invaders, murderers, rapists.”
The majority of those detained are not dangerous criminals. They are collateral damage. More than 75% of people booked into ICE custody in fiscal year 2025 had no criminal conviction other than an immigration or traffic-related offense, according to ICE records from October through the end of May. And less than 10% were convicted of serious crimes like murder, assault, robbery or rape.
Katie Allred: Helping Churches Help
I have worked with Katie Allred since COVID. She coached North American pastors to get through a pandemic with robust communication strategies. Now Katie is helping churches address immigrant issues, specifically, ICE raids. I respect her approach.
She posted directions to churches to help members of their congregation stay safe during ICE raids.
Katie addresses the question, “How can a church communicate wisely, pastorally, and without creating unnecessary fear during moments like this?”
Here are a few things that feel helpful and grounded:
Four Biblical Actions
- Start with clarity, not politics.
A church can communicate what it will do—how it plans to care for people, what safety or contingency plans are in place—without taking a partisan stance. Clear information actually reduces anxiety.
- Lead with compassion.
Regardless of immigration status, people are image-bearers. Loving our neighbors isn’t political; it’s Christian. That framing helps keep the focus on discipleship rather than debate.
- Acknowledge fear but don’t amplify it.
People have legitimate concerns. Naming that honestly helps them feel seen. But we can also remind them of God’s presence, peace, and call to love.
- Stay focused on your congregation’s pastoral role.
You don’t have to solve national immigration policy. You do have to shepherd the people in front of you with wisdom, grace, and practical guidance.
Outcomes
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to win a political argument—it’s to help a local church communicate well, lower fear, and care for everyone involved. If we can refocus on that, this becomes a much more constructive conversation.
One evangelical church took the following actions.
The KidsMin workers talk regularly about the situation, as well as making Know Your Rights with ICE cards and distributing them.
The Youth put together How to Report ICE zines.
The pastoral staff is working to present a clear public witness by going to protests, supporting one of their members at his trials, etc.
They developed and communicated a clear plan for what to do if ICE comes to our church.
There are strategies for how to strategically avoid cooperation, such as clearly labeling places as “private offices” to give folks a place to hide that would need a warrant to access.
What do you think? Join the conversation and post a comment below.
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