Churches Transform Nativity Scenes to Protest Trump Immigration Policies

Churches across the United States are transforming traditional Christmas Nativity scenes into stark political commentary, reimagining the birth of Christ as a protest against federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. At Lake Street Church in Evanston, Illinois, a provocative display shows Baby Jesus lying in a manger wrapped in a silver emergency blanket—the type commonly given to ICE detainees—with his wrists zip-tied. The figure of Mary stands nearby wearing a plastic gas mask, flanked by Roman soldiers dressed in tactical gear marked "ICE." The powerful imagery draws deliberate parallels between the biblical Holy Family's flight from persecution and the experiences of modern immigrants facing deportation. The gas mask worn by Mary references protective equipment used by anti-ICE protesters against teargas, while the emergency blankets symbolize the conditions faced by immigration detainees. Similar displays have appeared across the country. At Urban Village Church in another Chicago suburb, located near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that has drawn protests over detentions, a sign at the manger reads: "Due to ICE activity in our community, the Holy Family is in hiding." More than a thousand miles away in Dedham, Massachusetts, St. Susanna Parish took a different approach—the Christ child completely disappeared from their Nativity scene, replaced by a hand-painted sign declaring "ICE was here." These bold reinterpretations of the Christmas story are generating both praise and outrage as religious communities use the sacred narrative to comment on contemporary immigration policies. The displays represent a growing trend of churches using traditional religious imagery to make political statements about federal enforcement tactics. The artistic protests come amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, with churches positioning themselves as sanctuaries for immigrant communities. By reimagining the Nativity—a story fundamentally about refugees seeking shelter—these congregations are drawing attention to what they see as parallels between ancient and modern persecution. The displays have sparked intense debate, with supporters praising the churches for taking a prophetic stance on social justice issues, while critics argue that sacred religious imagery should not be politicized. However, the creators of these installations maintain they are simply placing the ancient Christmas story in contemporary context, highlighting themes of displacement, persecution, and the search for sanctuary that remain relevant today. As the holiday season continues, these provocative Nativity scenes serve as powerful reminders of the ongoing national debate over immigration policy and the role of faith communities in advocating for vulnerable populations.