Political Christmas Scenes at US Places of Worship Push Back on Immigration Enforcement

Across the United States, satirical holiday displays are on display that mock hardline federal immigration policies. These installations reimagine the traditional Christmas story, depicting the newborn Christ and his parents, Mary and Joseph, as figures affected by the tactics of enforcement agents.

A Stark Interpretation in Evanston

One powerful display at a church in the Chicago suburb of Evanston features baby Jesus lying in a crib amidst snow. Yet, the doll is covered by the kind of emergency thermal blankets frequently distributed to those in custody and has its hands secured by plastic restraints.

Nearby, the figure of the Virgin Mary is positioned outside the church, equipped with a gas mask. This item has been used by protesters seeking protection from tear gas. She is flanked by representations of ancient soldiers, but in this scene they are dressed in body armor marked with the acronym “ICE.”

An Absent Holy Family

At a different Windy City place of worship, the customary figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are conspicuously absent from the traditional nativity scene featuring camels and donkeys and Magi. Instead, a sign carries a direct message: “Because of enforcement actions in our community the Holy Family is in hiding.”

“The holiday season is a time when we have displays out on the lawn and we get an opportunity to say something,” said a church leader behind one of the displays.

Messages Echo Across the Country

These visual protests are extensions of the visible part taken by religious communities in recent protests against immigration enforcement. Comparable socially conscious exhibits have appeared in multiple states.

In Massachusetts, a parish took away the small statue of the baby Jesus from its creche. Left behind was a hand-painted sign that stated: “ICE was here.” The parish reportedly stood defiant despite criticism from various diocesan and agency leadership.

Linking Biblical Narrative and Contemporary Issue

According to the creators of these scenes, framing the age-old story of Christ’s birth within a modern political context helps bring focus to ongoing administrative agendas. They contend that the holy family’s status as refugees parallels the actual anxieties and realities of many households today, encompassing family separation and the deportation of working loved ones.

This is not the first time churches have employed nativity scenes for political protest. Previously, displays have highlighted topics ranging from conflict to the climate crisis.

Facing Pushback and Weathering Storms

The messages are not always widely accepted. A church minister involved commented that some detractors either misinterpret the intent or “consider it really challenging to their conscience and are lashing out at the display rather than considering what the true meaning is.”

In a physical way, the elements have also affected one scene. At another location, the statue of St. Joseph was blown down in a windstorm and was unable to be restored. A replacement sign now marks the space, stating: “Joseph didn’t make it. We hold this space to memorialize all the victims of immigration enforcement terror.”