Provocative Christmas Displays at US Churches Push Back on ICE

Across the US, satirical holiday exhibits have appeared that comment on aggressive federal immigration policies. These installations reimagine the traditional nativity story, depicting the infant Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph, as figures caught up in the tactics of enforcement agents.

A Stark Retelling in Evanston

One powerful display at a church in the Chicago suburb of Evanston features baby Jesus placed within a manger out in the snow. However, the figure is wrapped in the type of thin, foil blankets often distributed to those in custody and has its hands secured by zip-ties.

Nearby, the statue of Mary is positioned outside the church, wearing a respirator. This item has been used by protesters seeking to guard against chemical agents. She is flanked by figures of ancient soldiers, but in this scene they are dressed in tactical vests marked with the letters “ICE.”

An Absent Holy Family

At a different Windy City church, the usual figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are nowhere to be seen from the standard display featuring camels and donkeys and Magi. In their place, a placard carries a simple 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 chance to make a statement,” remarked a church leader involved with one of the installations.

Messages Spread Nationwide

These visual protests reflect the visible role taken by religious communities in ongoing protests against immigration enforcement. Comparable socially conscious exhibits have appeared in other states.

In one New England state, a parish removed the small statue of Christ from its creche. Left behind was a hand-painted sign that stated: “ICE was here.” Church officials are said to have stood defiant in the face of criticism from various religious and government leadership.

Linking Ancient Story and Modern Crisis

According to the creators of these scenes, presenting the ancient story of the nativity within a contemporary sociopolitical frame draws attention to current administrative priorities. They contend that the family's status as displaced persons mirrors the actual fears and realities of many households today, encompassing being torn apart and the removal of breadwinning loved ones.

It is not the initial instance churches have used Christmas displays for social commentary. In previous years, installations have addressed topics ranging from war to the environmental emergency.

Facing Criticism and Enduring the Elements

The messages are not always widely accepted. A clergy member involved commented that some critics either misinterpret the message or “find it really difficult to their conscience and are reacting negatively at the display rather than engaging with what the actual meaning is.”

In a literal way, the weather have also affected one scene. At another church, the figure of St. Joseph was blown down in a windstorm and was unable to be restored. A replacement sign now marks the space, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We hold this space to memorialize all the those affected of enforcement actions.”