Idaho (Senate Bill 1296 and House Bill 615), Louisiana (House Bill 294 and House Bill 68), Oklahoma (Senate Bill 743), and Kansas (House Bill 2018) have added enhancements to existing trespassing laws to protect local congregations from the type of disruption anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protestors forced on Cities Church January 18 over one of its pastors' working with the agency.
According to charging documents, protesters interrupted the sermon with loud declarations, including chants of "ICE Out!" and "Stand up, fight back!" Federal prosecutors charged them under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act), which includes protections for houses of worship against physical intimidation.
Dr. Richard Land of Southern Evangelical Seminary points out those are all red states, which does not bode well for blue states.
"The protesters will move to the path of least resistance," he predicts.
But he also adds that all American citizens have the right to appeal to the federal Constitution.
In other words, families in Chicago, which saw very aggressive anti-ICE protests, and in Minneapolis, where two protesters were shot and killed, have the same First Amendment protections as churchgoers in Florida and Mississippi.
"There are certain rights in the Bill of Rights that are guaranteed at the federal level," he reiterates. "That means anywhere you live in the United States, you're protected."
Even though the anti-ICE protests have eased up since President Donald Trump withdrew the surges in February, Democrats continue to oppose his deportation policies.
Land ties this debate to lax enforcement that could pose public safety risks.
"They are saying that, for instance, this facility in New Jersey should be shut down, which means that people who have been arrested for rape, murder, child molestation, etcetera will be walking the streets," Dr. Land summarizes. "I don't think people in most of our communities want that to happen."
