4th Circuit upholds limits on warrantless immigration enforcement at houses of worship

A federal appeals court on August 18, 2026, upheld a preliminary injunction that limits warrantless immigration enforcement at houses of worship affiliated with specific religious groups, ruling that the Trump administration's 2025 policy change likely violates a federal religious freedom law. The decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirms a lower court's order requiring the Department of Homeland Security to follow more restrictive guidelines from 2021 when conducting operations at or near the protected congregations.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by a coalition including Quaker meetings, the Sikh Temple Sacramento, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). The groups challenged a January 20, 2025, DHS memorandum that rescinded a Biden-era policy discouraging immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship. The 2025 policy instead instructed agents to use discretion and "common sense" when deciding where to act. The plaintiffs argued this change created a climate of fear that suppressed attendance and burdened their religious practice.

In its unanimous 40-page opinion, the three-judge panel agreed with...