Provocative Christmas Displays at US Churches Push Back on ICE

Throughout the United States, Christmas exhibits have appeared that critique aggressive government immigration enforcement policies. These installations reimagine the traditional Christmas story, portraying the infant Christ and his family, Joseph and Mary, as figures affected by the tactics of immigration authorities.

A Stark Retelling in Evanston

One powerful display at a congregation in Evanston, Illinois features the infant Christ lying in a crib out in the snow. Yet, the doll is covered by the kind of thin, foil thermal blankets frequently distributed to detainees and has its wrists bound with plastic restraints.

Nearby, the figure of the Virgin Mary is positioned just outside the church, equipped with a gas mask. This item has been used by activists attempting to guard against tear gas. Beside her are figures of Roman soldiers, however in this scene they are dressed in tactical vests marked with the letters “ICE.”

An Absent Holy Family

At another Windy City church, the customary figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are conspicuously absent from the traditional nativity scene with animals and wise men. Instead, a sign carries a direct message: “Due to enforcement actions in our community the Holy Family is in hiding.”

“Christmas is a time where we have displays out on the lawn and we get an opportunity to say something,” remarked a church leader involved with one of the installations.

Messages Echo Nationwide

These artistic statements are extensions of the visible part taken by faith leaders in ongoing protests against immigration enforcement. Comparable socially conscious displays have appeared in multiple states.

In Massachusetts, a parish removed the tiny figure of the baby Jesus from its creche. Left behind was a hand-painted sign that read: “ICE was here.” The parish reportedly remained firm despite criticism from both religious and agency officials.

Connecting Ancient Story and Modern Crisis

For those behind these displays, presenting the age-old tale of the nativity within a contemporary sociopolitical context helps bring attention to ongoing administrative agendas. They contend that the family's status as refugees parallels the actual fears and experiences of numerous households today, including being torn apart and the deportation of working family members.

This is not the initial instance churches have used Christmas displays for social commentary. Previously, installations have addressed issues ranging from conflict to the environmental emergency.

Encountering Pushback and Enduring the Elements

The statements are not always widely accepted. A church minister involved commented that some critics either do not fully understand the message or “find it very difficult to their sense of right and wrong and are reacting negatively at the art rather than considering what the true meaning is.”

In a physical sense, the elements have also impacted one display. At a separate church, the figure of Joseph was blown down in a storm and was unable to be repaired. A replacement sign now marks the spot, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We hold this space to memorialize all the victims of enforcement terror.”