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source_url: https://democracyforward.org/blog/houses-of-worship-file-motion-to-enforce-court-order-protecting-them-calls-on-court-to-address-reports-of-federal-spying-on-minnesota-based-baptist-church/
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Federal Court Filing Asks Court to Require Department of Homeland Security To Show Cause As To Why It Is Not In Contempt
Washington, DC – This morning, attorneys for houses of worship that have [secured a court order](https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/court-blocks-trump-vance-administrations-unlawful-immigration-raids-at-houses-of-worship/) preventing ICE from conducting indiscriminate enforcement asked a federal court to address recent reports of ICE agent surveillance and intimidation in and near church properties.
In the motion, filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts Central Division, plaintiffs note that ““recently disclosed evidence” reveals “multiple egregious violations of the preliminary injunction….”, including deploying an undercover immigration agent into one of Plaintiffs’ protected churches to spy on and record people inside.” The filing comes just days after a federal appeals court in a related litigation brought by Democracy Forward upheld a federal court’s decision to block ICE enforcement in cases.”
“Alarming evidence has shown that despite a court ordering them not to do so, ICE agents continue to invade churches and other places of sanctuary, terrorizing the people who seek refuge and respite within them,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, which represents plaintiffs in this case. “It is clear that the government will stop at nothing–including at church doors–in its campaign to stoke fear in communities across the country, so we are asking the court to hold them accountable for this intrusion. Democracy Forward is proud to represent our courageous clients, who are demanding accountability from a government that, instead of respecting their religious freedoms, is trying to actively abuse them.”
Read the motion to enforce [here](https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NES-v.-DHS-Motion-for-OSC-w-all-attachments.pdf).