Last weekend, ICE agents under the Trump administration conducted a controversial operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, arresting at least 81 people, including on the grounds of a church. The incident occurred in front of children and parishioners who were working in the yard, causing panic and protests from the community. The church pastor stated that the agents did not identify themselves before detaining a member of the congregation, who had family inside the church.
This is one of the first times the Trump administration has deliberately entered the grounds of a church to carry out immigration law enforcement actions, leading to accusations of violating the First Amendments and religious freedoms. Religious leaders have initiated lawsuits to stop these actions, and protests have taken place throughout the city, including at the New Covenant AME church, which condemned the administration's tactics. Incidents have also been reported where agents interrogated workers in front of homes, amplifying concerns about abuses of power and the impact on immigrant communities.
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