11 faith groups accuse Trump administration of violating court order while spying on churches

(RNS) — Faith groups suing President Donald Trump’s administration filed a motion Thursday (Aug. 20)   alleging the Department of Homeland Security committed “multiple egregious violations” of a court order that largely barred warrantless surveillance at their churches.

The motion , filed on behalf of the 11 religious plaintiffs, also asked the court to issue an order showing why DHS shouldn’t be held in contempt.

“Given the blatant and repeated nature of Defendants’ violations, the harm to fundamental rights of religion and expressive association, and the threat of future similar violations, Plaintiffs also respectfully request the Court’s expedited consideration of this motion,” the filing reads.

The religious plaintiffs — which include denominations such as American Baptist Churches USA and several regional bodies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — sued the administration last July challenging the government’s decision to rescind the “sensitive locations” policy that had previously discouraged immigration raids at locations such schools, hospitals and churches. A federal judge eventually issued a 62-page injunction in February temporarily barring warrantless…