{"id":25941,"date":"2025-09-26T23:02:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T23:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=25941"},"modified":"2025-09-26T23:02:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T23:02:20","slug":"update-on-mennonite-usa-v-dhs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2025\/update-on-mennonite-usa-v-dhs\/","title":{"rendered":"Office of Peacebuilding and Policy shares update on Mennonite USA v. DHS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Marcia Sowles<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sept. 22, the Church of the Brethren and other plaintiffs filed their opening brief in their appeal of the district court’s decision denying their motion for a preliminary injunction in Mennonite USA v. DHS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this case, called Mennonite USA v. DHS, the Church of the Brethren joined 26 other denominations and associations to challenge the Department of Homeland Security’s rescission of its three-decade-old policy restricting immigration enforcement actions at or near houses of worship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The motion for preliminary injunction was supported by 66 declarations from the plaintiffs, including a declaration by David Steele, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren, and two Church of the Brethren pastors. The declarations explained how congregations with immigrant members have seen a significant decline in worship attendance and participation in social services as a result of the new policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government’s brief is currently due on Oct. 22.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Previous Newsline reports on this case offer more information:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Feb 11, \u201cMore than two dozen Christian and Jewish denominations and associations\u2014including the Church of the Brethren\u2014sue to protect religious freedoms,\u201d<\/strong> www.brethren.org\/news\/2025\/suit-to-protect-religious-freedoms<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feb. 28, \u201cChurch of the Brethren general secretary\u2019s declaration filed alongside dozens of others in motion for preliminary injunction of policy on sensitive sites,\u201d<\/strong> www.brethren.org\/news\/2025\/general-secretarys-declaration-filed<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

April 16, \u201cJudge denies preliminary injunction in sensitive locations lawsuit,\u201d<\/strong> www.brethren.org\/news\/2025\/judge-denies-preliminary-injunction<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— Marcia Sowles is a volunteer Policy and Governmental Affairs associate at the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving<\/p>\n\n\n\n

———-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find more Church of the Brethren news:<\/p>\n\n\n