The Above is the Logo for Democracy Forward

Today, a coalition of Quaker Meetings filed suite in the federal court in Maryland to block the Department of US Homeland Security (DHS) from its abrupt shift in policy that enables federal immigration enforcement officials to enter houses of workship for their immigration enforcement actions.  The policy is already causing fear within immigrant friendly congregations and has led to cancellations in workshop services out of fear, the Complaint states.  The suit alleges that the Trump policy violates the First Amendment and other protections.

“A week ago today, President Trump swore an oath to defend the Constitution and yet today religious instituations that have existed since the 1600s in our country are having to go to court to challenge what is a violation of every individual’s Constitutional right to worship and associate freely” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward.  “Out team is honored to represent Quaker Meetings that have been in the forefront in protecting values of religiou liberty for centuries and will urge the court to act swiftly to halt this unlawful and harmful policy.”

Five of the “Quaker Meetings” in the lawsuit are:  Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, New England Yearly Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Adelphie Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and Richmond Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.