Race Day Live A new policy from the Trump Administration has made some churches, which were once safe havens, vulnerable to immigration raids.
This change has raised concerns for religious leaders, especially in Central Florida, where many churches serve immigrant families. Some pastors worry about the impact on religious freedom and fear that the policy is making immigrants afraid to come to worship.
Pastor Gabriel Salguero, who leads a bilingual service in Orlando at The Gathering Place, is one of those concerned.
Every Sunday, he and his wife, Rev. Jeannette Salguero, lead a service where they speak and sing in English and Spanish.
They open their doors to families, including a Colombian family of asylum-seekers, who they make feel safe and welcome.
In one instance, Pastor Gabriel told the family, “Don’t be afraid. God is watching over you, and you are not alone.”
His wife Jeannette translated his words into Spanish, reassuring the family that they now had a church family to support them.
Pastor Gabriel wants his church to be a place where people can worship without fear. “People should feel free to come to worship and to serve God without the fear of being separated,” he said, adding that holy places like churches need to be respected.
As the leader of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, he shared that many pastors have been worried about how to respond if immigration enforcement shows up at their churches.
Recently, the coalition held a training session for 500 pastors to guide them on how to handle such situations. Gabriel shared that many pastors have expressed concern over their rights, asking,
“What can we do if immigration officials show up?” He’s already noticed a decline in attendance, and he believes the full impact of this policy may not be clear for a few weeks.
Other religious groups, such as Catholic bishops and Quaker organizations, have strongly objected to the new policy. However, there is still some disagreement among Christian leaders.
Mat Staver, a conservative Christian leader with the Liberty Counsel in Orlando, views the policy differently. He believes that while many people of faith want to help immigrants, there must also be a balance with law and order.
He argues that churches can still minister to people in need, but they can’t ignore the laws of the land.
For some, like Rev. José Rodriguez of Christ the King Episcopal Church in Orlando, the issue comes down to religious freedom.
He expressed concern that this policy undermines the sacredness of the church as a safe place for all. “It’s evoking images of brute force and disruption,” Rodriguez said. “People are afraid. They’re wondering if their worship services will be interrupted by government action.”
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Rodriguez also pointed out that for many Latino immigrants, especially those from countries with a history of religious persecution, this fear is even stronger.
While the raids may never happen, the fear of government interference in their religious practice is real and already affecting church attendance.
Churches have long served as sanctuaries for those in need, including those fleeing slavery in the 1800s. Under President Obama, a policy was put in place to protect churches from immigration enforcement, except in emergencies.
But when President Trump took office, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded that policy, opening the door for government actions in places that were once off-limits.
This change has left religious leaders in Florida, and across the country, facing tough decisions about how to protect their congregations while navigating a complicated new reality.
Many fear that it could erode the trust and sense of safety that churches have worked hard to build within their communities.
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