đź•’ Created

The administration faces potential contempt of court for allowing ICE agents to enter and surveil churches during a federal immigration crackdown.

The administration is facing a potential contempt of court ruling after federal agents violated a preliminary injunction that barred them from entering places of worship during a federal immigration enforcement surge. In Minneapolis, undercover agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted extensive surveillance on churches, including the University Baptist Church, where an agent wore a wire to a self-defense class and recorded worshippers. While the administration argued that these actions did not constitute formal immigration enforcement and were not central to the church's mission, religious groups argued that the infiltration of their sacred spaces was a clear violation of judicial orders. The surveillance was part of "Operation Puppet Master," a broader investigation into 15 Minneapolis protesters accused of a conspiracy to impede federal agents. The administration defended the tactics as standard law enforcement practice, while critics argued the surveillance could sweep up peaceful citizens and potentially chill the freedom of people to attend protests or join advocacy groups without fear of government scrutiny.

Sources