Shortly after taking office, President Trump rescinded a long-standing policy that substantially restricts immigration agents from conducting arrests in or near “sensitive locations” such as hospitals, schools, and houses of worship. This recession threatens fundamental freedom of religion and the ability of immigrants to safely access education and medical care without fear of deportation.
Urge Congress to pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act to protect these spaces from immigration enforcement.
Background
In January 2025, as part of its pledge to conduct mass deportation, the Trump administration rescinded a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy that substantially restricts Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents from conducting immigration arrests in or near “sensitive locations” like hospitals, schools, and houses of worship except in exigent circumstances. This policy, which has been in place in various forms since the 1990s, ensures that immigrants can worship freely and access critical educational and health care services without fear of arrest or deportation.
The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (S. 455/H.R. 1061) would reinstate the DHS policy and expand sensitive location protections to a broader range of educational and medical facilities, federal and state courthouses, DMVs and social security offices, facilities (such as rape crisis and homeless shelters) that provide essential social services, and more. It also mandates that ICE and CBP agents receive training on carrying out immigration enforcement actions and requires that ICE and CBP submit an annual report to Congress on enforcement actions. This bill was reintroduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13) in February 2025.
Jewish Values
No less than 36 times, the Torah instructs us on how to treat the ger, the foreigner among us. God commands, “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love them as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:34). Guided by this repeated injunction to love the stranger, the Reform Jewish Movement has long been committed to fixing our fractured immigration system and ensuring just, compassionate, and equitable immigration policies are enacted.
Additional Information
If you have additional questions about this issue, visit the RAC's immigration page or contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Tamara Upfal.
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