Court Backs Faith Groups in Challenge to ICE Church Enforcement Policy

Court Backs Faith Groups in Challenge to ICE Church Enforcement Policy

A federal appeals court has upheld a temporary restriction preventing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from carrying out enforcement operations at certain houses of worship under a policy allowing actions at churches, schools and other community sites. A unanimous three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a coalition that includes several Quaker meeting groups, a Sikh temple and a Cooperative Baptist congregation.
  • Massachusetts Allows Abortions After 24 Weeks Under New Law
    Massachusetts has removed its 24-week gestational limit on abortion after Democratic Gov. Maura Healey signed House Bill 5595 into law Monday. The new measure eliminates previous language requiring doctors performing abortions after 24 weeks to determine that the procedure was necessary to protect the mother’s life or health.
  • Senate Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General After Remarks on Putting God “Front and Center”
    The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general after secular organizations criticized remarks in which he said “God” should be “front and center again” under the Trump administration. Blanche was confirmed Saturday in a 50-49 vote after gaining support from Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. His nomination advanced Tuesday when the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines.

Washington Therapist’s Case Against Counseling Ban Reopened After Supreme Court Decision

A federal court has reopened a Christian therapist’s challenge to a Washington law restricting counseling for minors who seek help with unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington last Thursday revived Tingley v. Brown, a lawsuit brought by licensed therapist Brian Tingley against the state’s 2018 “conversion therapy” ban.
  • Support for Same-Sex Marriage Falls to 54%, Down From 71% Peak Three Years Ago
    A new survey indicates that public support for same-sex marriage has declined, continuing a broader downward trend from the record levels reported by several major polling organizations in recent years. According to the poll, 54% of respondents said same-sex marriage should be legal, while 32% said it should not. Another 13% answered that they were “not sure.”
  • Federal Judge Ends Challenge to Trump Religious Liberty Commission After Document Release
    A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by an interfaith coalition against the Trump administration’s Religious Liberty Commission after the government released a number of documents sought by the plaintiffs. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the case after the administration published transcripts, meeting minutes, witness testimony, event schedules, hearing summaries and recommendations on the Department of Justice website.
  • California Schools to Require Mixed-Sex Restroom Starting This School Year
    California public schools must provide at least one restroom open to students of either sex on every campus beginning with the new school year, prompting family advocates to encourage parents to examine how their local districts intend to comply. Senate Bill 760, introduced by then-state Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, requires each school to make at least one “all-gender” restroom available.
More News

  • DOJ Expands Religious Liberty Guidance With New Protections for Parental Rights

    The U.S. Department of Justice has released revised religious liberty guidance for federal executive agencies, adding protections for parents and incorporating several recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings. Issued Thursday, the document updates the DOJ’s 2017 guidance and introduces a new principle addressing parents’ authority over their children’s religious education and upbringing.

  • Gen Z Split 52%-48% Over Whether Christian Support for Trump Drives Them From Church

    Generation Z adults are nearly evenly divided over whether Christians’ support for President Donald Trump discourages church attendance, with 48% saying it makes them less likely to attend and 52% disagreeing, according to a new study. The Billy Graham Center Research Institute surveyed 2,365 Americans ages 18 to 28 through NORC’s AmeriSpeak panel between Aug. 9 and Sept. 26, 2024.

  • U.S. House Approves Bill to Suspend All Aid to Nigeria Over Christian Persecution

    The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a measure that would withhold all American assistance to Nigeria until its government takes meaningful action “to prevent and respond to violence in the country.” The provision was included in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act, which cleared the House.

  • Homeland Security Secretary Vows Prosecution of Illegal Voters and Election Officials Who Fail to Cooperate

    U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned Friday that federal authorities would identify and prosecute people who cast ballots illegally, while also claiming that approximately 250,000 noncitizens are registered to vote across four states.

  • Americans Who Endure Tragedy More Likely Than Others to Read Bible, Find Comfort in Faith

    Americans who have endured major hardships or personal tragedies are more likely to read the Bible and describe their faith as a source of comfort than those who have not experienced similar struggles, according to a new survey. Among respondents who had gone through divorce, 53% reported using the Bible, compared with 38% of those who had not experienced divorce.

  • U.S. Pledges $386 Million in Humanitarian Aid After Venezuela Earthquakes

    The U.S. State Department has released an update on humanitarian relief efforts in Venezuela following the June 24 earthquakes, with the U.S. government committing more than $386 million to the operation. The State Department said more than 400 metric tons of supplies, including shelter kits, hygiene kits and cooking kits, have already reached about 70,000 people.

  • Polls Show Generational Divide Among Republicans Over Israel and Netanyahu

    American support for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has continued to weaken, with recent polling suggesting that younger Republicans are becoming less uniformly supportive than older members of the party. About one-third of Americans believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. About half of Democrats said they held that view.

  • Trump at Mount Rushmore Calls Communism America’s Greatest Threat, Vows to Defeat “Menace”

    President Donald Trump used his Independence Day eve address at Mount Rushmore to warn that communism poses what he described as the greatest threat the United States has ever confronted. Speaking to supporters gathered in South Dakota’s Black Hills, Trump said the danger exceeds the challenges of the two world wars, Pearl Harbor and the September 11 attacks.
Most Read
Other Headlines