Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Tell Congress to restore immigration protections to essential locations
From our perspective as pastors, we have found that members of our flock have decided not to attend Mass or access the sacraments of the Church because of the fear of immigration enforcement. We consider this an issue of religious freedom—a right enshrined in both the U.S. Constitution and international covenants. Moreover, children should be able to attend school without fear and those in need of urgent medical care should be able to seek treatment with confidence. The reinstatement of these sensitive locations would preserve basic access to these necessary and life-affirming services.

—U.S. Catholic bishops in border states & beyond, statement on recommended reforms, 24 February 2026

Tell Congress to restore immigration protections to essential locations

For decades, immigration enforcement agents were directed not to lurk or intervene near essential service locations, commonly called “sensitive locations”, including schools, locations of worship, courthouses, and medical facilities. These instructions protected immigrants from being ambushed in the midst of activities that directly serve their long-term wellbeing. On day one of President Trump’s second term as president, he abolished these protections because Congress had never codified them into law. Now, immigrants must choose either risking deportation or meeting basic needs like their children’s education, spiritual community, and basic or emergency medical care.

The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (H.R. 1061 / S. 455) has been introduced to remedy this dangerous oversight. Communities benefit when everyone is able to participate in activities for the common good, and restoring protections to sensitive locations will encourage immigrants to engage as full members of their neighborhoods, seeking and offering help as needed and honoring civic responsibilities and spiritual commitments in a timely way.

Please use the draft email in the grey box at right (below on mobile devices) to urge your senators and representative to cosponsor, publicly support, and vote YES on the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act.

Background

A two-page summary of the bill’s content and import has been prepared by Church World Service, a coalition partner with the Mercy Justice Team.

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