Conservative Christians and members of the Trump administration have proclaimed this current government as a defender of Christianity and religious freedom. These proclamations are completely dismissive of numerous instances to the contrary, including the latest heartbreaking news that our government surveilled congregations right here in the United States.
Unsealed court documents prove the Trump administration via the Department of Homeland Security spied on American churches. Undercover ICE agents attended classes, brought recording devices into meetings, and even profiled vehicles of people parked near an immigration-related event at a St. Paul church, regardless of whether the individuals were attending the event or not.
Matthew Kolb
All in all, at least five congregations spanning the denominational spectrum — Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopalian and Unitarian Universalist — were surveilled. The anti-ICE and pro-immigration perspectives brought government surveillance down on their head, a scandalous threat against religious liberty that has been shrugged off by the Trump administration and its Christian supporters.
If news broke that the Obama or Biden administration was actively spying on American churches, conservative media and conservative Christians would rightfully be outraged at the conduct of government. Unfortunately, no such outrage has been given as of writing; instead, these churches are likely viewed as less spiritual and less Christian, so they are seen as unworthy of the same protections that conservative Christians enjoy.
Sadly, this explicit targeting of Christians is not merely limited to this one situation. David Black, a Presbyterian minister was shot with a pepper ball bullet while praying to and for ICE agents outside a detention center. Rather than admitting the violence was a mistake, the government doubled down by accusing the minister of instigating the violence and disrupting official governmental business.
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship itself brought a lawsuit against the Trump administration to protect houses of worship from immigration enforcement raids, leading to a temporary victory for nearly 1,400 churches across most of the country. The lawsuit was only necessary because DHS adjusted its own polices regarding houses of worship, choosing to reject the Biden administration’s more reasonable policy protecting houses of worship.
The reality of governmental agents resorting to violence against pastors or the prospect of federal agents entering the sanctuary of a congregation’s building is tragic, even more so when this administration has branded itself as a protector of religious freedom and liberty.
Even the beginning of this administration saw President Trump lash out at Episcopalian Bishop Mariann Budde following her sermon requesting he follow biblical commands to show mercy to the least of these. She was “nasty in tone and not compelling or smart,” according to his Truth Social posts. A Georgia Republican Congressman went so far as to suggest tht Bishop Budde needed to be added to the deportation list for her sermon.
Unfortunately, there appears to be little appetite among conservative Christians or members of this administration to call out these — and other — blatantly anti-Christian actions. The responsibility for that falls on us to continue holding this administration to account and ensuring that unlawful and unbiblical actions are called out.
Matthew Kolb is a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Related:
DHS claims it did not violate court order by spying on Baptist church