Appeals Court Enables Deportation Despite Migrants’ Deep Religious Community Ties

The Ninth Circuit’s decision Wednesday affects thousands of migrants who have become integral members of American religious communities, serving as church leaders, volunteers, and spiritual guides. The ruling dismisses religious community integration as a factor in deportation decisions.
Many affected individuals have spent decades building interfaith relationships, leading religious programs, and contributing to spiritual communities across various denominations. Their deportation would disrupt established religious leadership while removing experienced community organizers from faith-based organizations.
The administration successfully argued that religious involvement cannot substitute for proper immigration status, regardless of community leadership roles or spiritual contributions. Officials maintain that immigration law must be applied uniformly without exceptions for religious community participation.
Religious leaders across denominations express concern about losing experienced community members who have provided essential spiritual and organizational support. The policy challenges religious communities to maintain programs and services after potentially losing long-term volunteer leaders and participants.