Several religious groups filed a motion on Thursday asking a federal judge to consider holding Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials in contempt of court. The groups allege that an undercover operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents violated a standing judicial order that prohibits immigration enforcement actions inside or near specific houses of worship.
The legal challenge follows a February order issued by U.S. District Judge Dennis Saylor IV, which barred such enforcement activity. The dispute centers on whether an undercover criminal investigation conducted by ICE personnel qualifies as the type of immigration enforcement prohibited by the court's earlier ruling.
According to court filings, the undercover operation became public after an ICE agent inadvertently dropped a concealed recording device during a martial arts session at University Baptist Church in Minneapolis in May. The agent, who was participating in a boxing session in the church gymnasium, reported returning three minutes later to retrieve the recorder. Court records also indicate that the investigation involved photographing vehicles in the church parking lot and surveilling the exterior of the building.
Government lawyers argued that Judge Saylor’s order was limited to immigration enforcement and did not apply to criminal investigations, even when conducted by ICE. The operation in question was part of a criminal case in which the Justice Department has charged more than a dozen individuals with conspiracy to impede federal officers, along with charges of assault and stalking. Attorneys representing the churches countered that the court order applies to any operation intended "in whole or in part" to enforce immigration laws.
The scale of the conflict involves multiple federal court districts and thousands of dollars in potential legal costs as the administration pursues mass deportation efforts. A federal judge in Maryland and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals have previously ruled that ICE enforcement threats can chill religious liberty. For the average member of these congregations, the ruling defines the day-to-day expectation of privacy during worship or community activities, specifically regarding whether their presence or vehicles will be recorded or photographed by undercover federal personnel.
A ruling in favor of the religious groups would set a precedent that ICE cannot bypass restrictions on enforcement by labeling activities as criminal investigations. This adds to existing tensions between the judiciary and the DHS, whose top lawyer has recently criticized judges for the pace of immigration cases. A spokesperson for the DHS stated the agency does not comment on ongoing investigations or methods, while the U.S. Attorney’s office also declined to comment. The next steps depend on Judge Saylor’s response to the contempt motion filed on Thursday, which will determine if further hearings or sanctions are necessary.