🔗 Share this article Political Nativity Displays at US Churches Push Back on ICE Throughout the United States, satirical holiday exhibits are on display that critique hardline federal immigration enforcement policies. These installations reimagine the traditional nativity story, depicting the infant Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph, as victims affected by the tactics of enforcement agents. A Stark Interpretation in Evanston One striking installation at a church in Evanston, Illinois features the infant Christ lying in a manger out in the snow. Yet, the figure is covered by the type of emergency thermal blankets frequently given to detainees and has its wrists bound with plastic restraints. Nearby, the figure of Mary stands outside the building, wearing a gas mask. This item has been adopted by protesters seeking protection from tear gas. She is flanked by representations of ancient soldiers, however in this scene they are dressed in body armor labeled with the letters “ICE.” An Absent Holy Family At a different Chicago church, the usual models of the holy family are conspicuously absent from the standard display with camels and donkeys and wise men. Instead, a placard carries a direct message: “Due to enforcement actions in our community the Holy Family is in seclusion.” “Christmas is a time where we have displays in front of the church and we get an chance to make a statement,” said a church leader behind one of the installations. Statements Echo Nationwide These visual protests reflect the prominent role played by faith leaders in ongoing demonstrations against immigration enforcement. Comparable political exhibits have appeared in other states. In Massachusetts, a church took away the small statue of the baby Jesus from its creche. In its spot was a handmade sign that read: “Immigration authorities were here.” Church officials reportedly stood defiant in the face of complaints from both diocesan and agency officials. Connecting Ancient Story and Contemporary Issue For those behind these displays, presenting the age-old story of Christ’s birth within a modern sociopolitical frame draws attention to ongoing government agendas. They argue that the family's experience as displaced persons parallels the actual fears and experiences of numerous households today, encompassing being torn apart and the deportation of breadwinning loved ones. This is not the initial instance congregations have used nativity scenes for social commentary. In previous years, installations have addressed issues ranging from conflict to the environmental emergency. Facing Criticism and Weathering Storms The statements are not always widely accepted. A church minister participating noted that some detractors either misinterpret the message or “find it very challenging to their sense of right and wrong and are lashing out at the display rather than engaging with what the actual message is.” In a literal way, the elements have also affected one scene. At a separate church, the statue of Joseph was knocked over in a windstorm and was unable to be restored. A replacement sign now occupies the space, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We hold this space to honor and remember all the those affected of immigration enforcement actions.”
Throughout the United States, satirical holiday exhibits are on display that critique hardline federal immigration enforcement policies. These installations reimagine the traditional nativity story, depicting the infant Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph, as victims affected by the tactics of enforcement agents. A Stark Interpretation in Evanston One striking installation at a church in Evanston, Illinois features the infant Christ lying in a manger out in the snow. Yet, the figure is covered by the type of emergency thermal blankets frequently given to detainees and has its wrists bound with plastic restraints. Nearby, the figure of Mary stands outside the building, wearing a gas mask. This item has been adopted by protesters seeking protection from tear gas. She is flanked by representations of ancient soldiers, however in this scene they are dressed in body armor labeled with the letters “ICE.” An Absent Holy Family At a different Chicago church, the usual models of the holy family are conspicuously absent from the standard display with camels and donkeys and wise men. Instead, a placard carries a direct message: “Due to enforcement actions in our community the Holy Family is in seclusion.” “Christmas is a time where we have displays in front of the church and we get an chance to make a statement,” said a church leader behind one of the installations. Statements Echo Nationwide These visual protests reflect the prominent role played by faith leaders in ongoing demonstrations against immigration enforcement. Comparable political exhibits have appeared in other states. In Massachusetts, a church took away the small statue of the baby Jesus from its creche. In its spot was a handmade sign that read: “Immigration authorities were here.” Church officials reportedly stood defiant in the face of complaints from both diocesan and agency officials. Connecting Ancient Story and Contemporary Issue For those behind these displays, presenting the age-old story of Christ’s birth within a modern sociopolitical frame draws attention to ongoing government agendas. They argue that the family's experience as displaced persons parallels the actual fears and experiences of numerous households today, encompassing being torn apart and the deportation of breadwinning loved ones. This is not the initial instance congregations have used nativity scenes for social commentary. In previous years, installations have addressed issues ranging from conflict to the environmental emergency. Facing Criticism and Weathering Storms The statements are not always widely accepted. A church minister participating noted that some detractors either misinterpret the message or “find it very challenging to their sense of right and wrong and are lashing out at the display rather than engaging with what the actual message is.” In a literal way, the elements have also affected one scene. At a separate church, the statue of Joseph was knocked over in a windstorm and was unable to be restored. A replacement sign now occupies the space, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We hold this space to honor and remember all the those affected of immigration enforcement actions.”