The BareStory
Churches in several U.S. states, including North Carolina, Illinois, and Massachusetts, have created modified Nativity scenes to protest federal immigration enforcement policies. The displays feature reinterpretations of the biblical scene, with some depicting a baby Jesus figure in a cage or bound by zip ties, while others place the Holy Family alongside figures representing armed immigration agents.
Church leaders have stated the purpose of the displays is to draw a parallel between the Holy Family and the plight of modern-day refugees. Rev. Andrew Shipley of Missiongathering Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, said the installation was meant to confront viewers with the fear experienced by immigrant families. Similarly, Father Steve Josoma of St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, stated his church’s display was intended to evoke an emotional response.
The installations have drawn criticism from government and religious authorities. A Department of Homeland Security official, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, called one scene offensive and claimed it depicted events that "never happens," stating that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) does not restrain infants with zip ties. McLaughlin also alleged that such displays contribute to an increase in assaults on law enforcement. In Massachusetts, the Boston Archdiocese ordered the display at St. Susanna Parish be taken down, with a spokesperson asserting that churches should avoid "divisive political messaging."
The protests coincide with intensified immigration enforcement. One report cited federal figures showing at least 2,000 arrests across Illinois and Massachusetts in September. The displays have generated mixed public reactions, with some praising the churches' message of solidarity and others calling the installations politically divisive and sacrilegious. St. Susanna Parish, which has created similar displays in the past, has a committee that, according to a parish council member, has supported approximately 10 refugee families since 2019.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• You may encounter heightened local debates about immigration policy and the role of religious institutions in political expression, reflecting mixed public and official reactions.
• A government official alleges these displays could increase assaults on law enforcement, suggesting a potential, though unproven, public safety concern for federal agents.
• These protests bring intensified immigration enforcement practices into public view, potentially prompting wider community conversations on the government's approach.
