🔗 Share this article Provocative Nativity Displays at American Places of Worship Offer Commentary on Immigration Enforcement Across the United States, satirical holiday displays have appeared that mock aggressive government immigration enforcement crackdowns. These scenes retell the classic Christmas story, depicting the newborn Jesus and his family, Mary and Joseph, as victims caught up in the actions of enforcement agents. A Stark Retelling in a Chicago Suburb One powerful installation at a congregation in the Chicago suburb of Evanston features the infant Christ lying in a crib amidst snow. However, the doll is wrapped in the type of emergency blankets frequently distributed to detainees and has its hands bound with plastic restraints. Nearby, the statue of the Virgin Mary stands outside the church, equipped with a respirator. This item has been used by activists seeking to guard against tear gas. Beside her are representations of Roman soldiers, but in this display they are dressed in tactical vests marked with the acronym “ICE.” An Absent Holy Family At another Windy City place of worship, the usual figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are conspicuously absent from the standard display featuring animals and wise men. Instead, a sign carries a direct statement: “Due to enforcement actions in our community the holy family is in hiding.” “The holiday season is a time when we have displays in front of the church and we get an chance to say something,” remarked a senior minister behind one of the installations. Statements Spread Nationwide These visual protests reflect the prominent part played by faith leaders in ongoing demonstrations against immigration enforcement. Similar political displays have been erected in multiple states. In one New England state, a parish removed the small statue of Christ from its creche. In its spot was a hand-painted sign that read: “Immigration authorities were here.” The parish reportedly remained firm despite complaints from both diocesan and agency officials. Connecting Biblical Narrative and Contemporary Issue For those behind these scenes, framing the age-old story of the nativity within a contemporary sociopolitical context draws attention to ongoing government priorities. They argue that the family's status as refugees mirrors the actual anxieties and experiences of numerous households today, encompassing family separation and the removal of working loved ones. It is not the initial instance churches have employed nativity scenes for political protest. Previously, installations have addressed issues ranging from conflict to the climate crisis. Encountering Criticism and Weathering the Elements The messages are not always universally welcomed. A clergy member participating commented that some detractors either do not fully understand the intent or “consider it very challenging to their sense of right and wrong and are reacting negatively at the display rather than engaging with what the actual message is.” In a literal sense, the weather have also affected one display. At another location, the statue of Joseph was knocked over in a windstorm and was unable to be repaired. A replacement sign now marks the spot, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We keep this place to memorialize all the victims of enforcement terror.”
Across the United States, satirical holiday displays have appeared that mock aggressive government immigration enforcement crackdowns. These scenes retell the classic Christmas story, depicting the newborn Jesus and his family, Mary and Joseph, as victims caught up in the actions of enforcement agents. A Stark Retelling in a Chicago Suburb One powerful installation at a congregation in the Chicago suburb of Evanston features the infant Christ lying in a crib amidst snow. However, the doll is wrapped in the type of emergency blankets frequently distributed to detainees and has its hands bound with plastic restraints. Nearby, the statue of the Virgin Mary stands outside the church, equipped with a respirator. This item has been used by activists seeking to guard against tear gas. Beside her are representations of Roman soldiers, but in this display they are dressed in tactical vests marked with the acronym “ICE.” An Absent Holy Family At another Windy City place of worship, the usual figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are conspicuously absent from the standard display featuring animals and wise men. Instead, a sign carries a direct statement: “Due to enforcement actions in our community the holy family is in hiding.” “The holiday season is a time when we have displays in front of the church and we get an chance to say something,” remarked a senior minister behind one of the installations. Statements Spread Nationwide These visual protests reflect the prominent part played by faith leaders in ongoing demonstrations against immigration enforcement. Similar political displays have been erected in multiple states. In one New England state, a parish removed the small statue of Christ from its creche. In its spot was a hand-painted sign that read: “Immigration authorities were here.” The parish reportedly remained firm despite complaints from both diocesan and agency officials. Connecting Biblical Narrative and Contemporary Issue For those behind these scenes, framing the age-old story of the nativity within a contemporary sociopolitical context draws attention to ongoing government priorities. They argue that the family's status as refugees mirrors the actual anxieties and experiences of numerous households today, encompassing family separation and the removal of working loved ones. It is not the initial instance churches have employed nativity scenes for political protest. Previously, installations have addressed issues ranging from conflict to the climate crisis. Encountering Criticism and Weathering the Elements The messages are not always universally welcomed. A clergy member participating commented that some detractors either do not fully understand the intent or “consider it very challenging to their sense of right and wrong and are reacting negatively at the display rather than engaging with what the actual message is.” In a literal sense, the weather have also affected one display. At another location, the statue of Joseph was knocked over in a windstorm and was unable to be repaired. A replacement sign now marks the spot, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We keep this place to memorialize all the victims of enforcement terror.”