Many undocumented immigrants across the United States say they are too afraid to attend church, after President Trump, on his first day in office, ended an old policy of designating places of worship as sensitive locations that were off-limits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Undocumented immigrants across the United States are increasingly worshipping in private or hidden settings due to fears of detention or deportation by immigration authorities. Pastors and church leaders report a noticeable decline in attendance, with many congregants too afraid to attend public services. In response, some churches have implemented security measures, such as closed doors and guards, while others have shifted worship to homes or other discreet locations.

Church leaders emphasize the importance of serving all members of their community, regardless of immigration status, and advocate for humane immigration reform. Immigration officials state that churches and schools are not actively targeted for enforcement actions, but fear and uncertainty persist among immigrant families. The situation has led to emotional distress and a sense of isolation for many, with faith leaders calling for legislative changes to protect families and religious freedom.

Fearing ICE, many undocumented immigrants are worshipping in hiding

Pastors all over the country are praying and crying because they have a bunch of empty seats in church, empty seats in the choir, where people used to come Sunday after Sunday to worship God. There's a lot of concerns about, is it safe to go to church and not get detained or deported? Immigrants are deeply religious people, and these indiscriminate enforcement actions are threatening our religious liberty. We don't have an immigration litmus test to worship with people. I never ask anybody for their papers to come to church and worship. And pastors have to obey the law. We're not lawbreakers, but we also want to serve the people Christ has brought to us. That puts us in such an untenable position. Have you ever been in a living room with a family who's very, very deeply committed to Christ and can't go to church for a month, and that's their community, and faith is what sustains them? They're telling you in the living room with tears in their eyes, Pastor, I want to go, but I'm too afraid. What do you do? You have the right to be here. I do not have to listen to you. This is the property of the church. This is Downing Memorial Christian Church, and we are not okay with you being on our property. All right? We are not okay with you being on our property. I am waiting on people from my church. They're coming to my home just to worship God. And so many of our people are scared. That's why I invite them right here to my place to sing, to praise God, to worship together with freedom. There is no light that enters the temple, so that people who are inside the temple cannot be seen. We also celebrate with the doors closed. We never did it before. We have guards at the doors. The North American community, which is very supportive, helps us to give security at the door. And as if someone is coming from ICE, they are the ones who are going to approach and speak like North Americans, to face and defend us. There are members who go out to supervise parking if there is someone suspicious. Because we know how serious this is. I don't call it fear anymore. It's panic. He has fallen into an attitude of psychological terrorism. My sister and I are from El Salvador. We arrived when we were 10 years old. My whole life has been in this country. I've never really thought of El Salvador being my home. I don't have a home over there. I don't have friends. I don't have family. All of my family pretty much is here. It's very heavy to constantly feel fear that at any moment, literally, your life could change. It feels like we have to give up our freedom. You don't want to risk anything. You just have to stay at home. Simple as that. Even going to work. Am I going back home today? Am I going to see my parents? Am I going to see my dog? Very early on, my goal has been get good grades. Take all the AP courses that I can take. Even right now, with a whole college degree, I feel like I've done everything that I needed to do. But yet, just because of my status, I'm still not enough. One of the main things that has definitely hurt me has been my freedom to attend church. My freedom to serve God. We have served a church since we were like 12 years old. Years of serving the community. You just feel like something is taken from you. Since I stand in the front, I pretty much know where everyone sits. And I see people that are no longer coming. There comes a point where the church has to adapt, not give up. In the sense that if they can't come to my building, then I need to go to them. Hi. Hey. Welcome. Hi. Good to see you. Come on in. Thank you. So good to see you. We can sit at the table. The church is not the building. The church is us right now. We want people to understand that they are not alone. They're not by themselves. So today, I would like to partake in the Holy Communion, just as a remembrance. And so we can draw from His strength. I feel like it has definitely made me feel very alone. But for a bit, I was so resentful to God. Like, wow, I have been so faithful to you. It's okay. Yeah. Because I was like, I have served you for so many years. One of the things He said on the cross is, Forgive them for they know not what they do. And we want to have forgiveness in our heart. We want to have grace and mercy that God touches people's heart. Part of our prayer is that He touches Congress. This is devastating our families and devastating our children. And anything that impacts our children and our families is of the highest priority. I'm here in D.C. today to meet with senators and congressmen and women to say, We can do better. We need immigration reform that's humane. We want a way to streamline these people so they can be legalized while we deal with violent criminal immigrants and while we deal with the border. And to make sure that churches continue to be sensitive locations, that we respect the freedom of worship. It's been that way for years. Why the change? You're right, we did. I did rescind that policy. But it's just like any other law enforcement agency. You can take the NYPD. They're not going to go ahead and target a church or synagogue. We're not going to do the same thing. If we're in a pursuit of a criminal alien or a felon and they run into a hospital or a church, we're going to continue that pursuit. Nothing's off the table when it comes to that. But we're not actively targeting schools. We're not actively targeting hospitals. No law enforcement agency would do that. We don't do that. We do hear that ICE is, you know, people are scared to send their children to school because they're afraid ICE is going to make arrests at schools. ICE isn't going to do that. The instance that people have brought up where ICE or Homeland Security Special Agents have been in schools is because we're dedicated to find those 300,000 unaccompanied minors. So we do welfare checks at the schools, but it's only to go ahead and try to make sure that these people are with the right sponsor or with the family, not being exploited, not being trafficked. The last known address might be that school. So there's been a few instances. We had one out of California that, again, was painted in the wrong light. We were trying to rescue children, not making arrests. But you're not going into schools and churches to carry out arrests. No, we're not. There are already 26 children, of whom I would have to be responsible if the parents are arrested and deported. They are trusting the most sacred things, which are their children. I know it's a lot of pressure, but we have to follow in Jesus' footsteps. The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep. We are called to do that. Last week, my husband left work. At 7 a.m., his co-workers called me. I didn't know what time he had left, because he didn't arrive. I got a call from an unknown number from the city. I answered, and it was him. He told me the most difficult thing. He said, I'm going to emigrate. Take care of my children. And he hung up. That's really the hard part. Knowing how to comfort them. Because how can you tell a child who longs for his father, who is waiting for his father to arrive, that his father won't be able to come? It's difficult. In this abnormality that I want to maintain for my daughters, going to church, seeing their friends from church, that's their constant. But if they arrest me, and if they don't stop, what will happen to my girls? How will I get my girls out of this country? We'll have to put that aside for a while.

Thieves wielding power tools have struck at the famed Louvre Museum in Paris, stealing priceless jewels in a brazen heist that took just four minutes, according to the government. The thieves struck after the museum had already opened its doors to the public, with a major investigation now underway.

Paris

‘Priceless’ jewels stolen from France’s Louvre Museum in four-minute heist

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is ending aid to Colombia after the country’s president, Gustavo Petro, accused the U.S. of ‘murder’ when it struck a small boat within Colombian territorial waters in September.

Bogotá

Trump ending aid to Colombia after 'murder' accusation

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire is under pressure, as the Israeli military carries out strikes on southern Gaza and accuses Hamas of opening fire on its forces. Meanwhile, Israel alleges Hamas is stalling on returning the remains of deceased hostages.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Israel, Hamas clash in major test of U.S.-backed ceasefire

The National Guard could soon be on Chicago’s streets after US President Donald Trump took his case to the country’s highest court - the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.  The President says the city is a war zone - and is in the midst of a rebellion, as residents protest his migrant deportation policy.

Chicago

Supreme Court to decide on sending the National Guard to Chicago

China's second-highest ranking general and eight other senior officials have been expelled from the ruling Communist Party and the military on suspicion of serious misconduct linked to corruption.

Beijing

China expels nine senior officials from Communist Party

The United States is sending the two survivors of a Thursday (October 18) strike in the Caribbean to their home countries of Colombia and Ecuador to be detained and prosecuted, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday.

Washington

U.S. will repatriate survivors of Caribbean strike, Trump says

The two sides have agreed to hold follow-up talks in Qatar to establish conditions and a framework for lasting peace, bringing an end to a week of deadly cross border skirmishes, which have killed dozens of people.

Doha

Afghanistan, Pakistan agree to immediate ceasefire, Qatar says

France's world-famous Louvre museum in Paris was forced to close on Sunday after thieves broke into Apollo Gallery and stole valuable crown jewels.

Jewels of 'inestimable' value stolen from Louvre in major heist

U.S. President Donald Trump's critics took to the streets Saturday, with millions nationwide participating in "No Kings" rallies, protesting Trump's demonstrations of power.

Anti-Trump "No Kings" protests held across U.S.

The Trump administration is awaiting word from the Supreme Court after asking it to allow the immediate deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. A lower court blocked the move.

Portland

Tensions rising in Portland, Oregon over immigration tactics

President Trump posted a video of a U.S. military strike on a submersible suspected of smuggling drugs. Two people were killed in the strike but the survivors were brought to a Navy ship. Trump says the U.S. will send the them back to their home countries for prosecution.

Trump says survivors of U.S. drug submersible will be sent home

The U.S. State Department issued a warning that Hamas appeared to be planning an attack 'against Palestinian civilians,' warning that such an attack would 'constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement'.

State Dept. flags ceasefire violation by Hamas

Britain's Prince Andrew said on Friday he would give up using his title of Duke of York following years of criticism about his behavior and connections to the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Windsor

Prince Andrew gives up title of Duke of York

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy came to the White House on Friday looking for weapons to keep fighting his country's war with Russia, but met an American president who appears more intent on brokering a peace deal than upgrading Kyiv’s arsenal.

Ukraine Invasion

Trump pauses on sending Tomahawks to Ukraine

Tension is rising between the U.S and Venezuela. The latest threats from the US warning of stronger measures against Nicolas Maduro’s government — have sparked both fear and fragile hope across Venezuela.

Caracas

Venezuela on high-alert amid U.S strikes

In the aftermath of a destructive Typhoon Halong, historic floodwaters have destroyed remote communities across western Alaska, forcing hundreds of evacuations that could continue for days.

Kipnuk

Mass evacuations in Alaska after record floodwaters

Mr. Trump seemed open to trading U.S.-made Tomahawk's for Ukrainian-made drones, but then he argued Ukraine might not even need new weapons if he can broker a swift end to the invasion.

Trump says he'd rather broker peace than send Tomahawks to Ukraine

President Trump announced that he has commuted former New York Rep. George Santos' sentence on Friday in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

President Trump commutes George Santos' sentence

The head of the World Trade Organization said on Thursday (October 16) she is urging the U.S. and China to de-escalate trade tensions, warning that a decoupling between the world's two largest economies could reduce global economic output by 7% over the longer-term.

WTO urges U.S., China to ease trade war or risk global growth

John Bolton pleaded not guilty at a Maryland federal court on Friday (October 17). This comes after the former Trump administration national security adviser was indicted on 18 counts for his alleged mishandling of classified information.

Greenbelt

John Bolton pleads not guilty to criminal charges

Buckingham Palace announced Friday that Prince Andrew is giving up his royal titles. This comes after a posthumous memoir by Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre emerged.

London

Prince Andrew giving up his royal titles, Buckingham Palace says

U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues. On Thursday, Trump spent more than two hours on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump set to meet with Zelenskyy

Ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Trump cast doubt on supplying Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, citing U.S. stock concerns. He also discussed the issue with Russian President Putin, who opposed the idea, raising questions about future Ukraine aid.

Trump questions sending Tomahawks to Ukraine after Putin call

At least one person was killed and dozens of police officers injured in widespread protests overnight in Peru against President Jose Jeri, who assumed power just days ago. The government will declare a state of emergency in Lima within hours and is preparing a package of measures to tackle rising insecurity.

Lima

Peru to impose state of emergency after violent clashes

The espionage case against Christopher Berry and Christopher Cash collapsed after government officials refused to testify under oath that China posed a threat to national security.

MI5 chief warns China a ‘daily threat’ after spy case collapse

NATO is increasing its capabilities on its eastern flank after recent Russian drone incursions. At the same time the EU has announced a major defence policy roadmap aimed at deterring threats from Russia.

Šiauliai

NATO, EU step up defences to deter Russia

The U.S. military flew three B-52 bombers on missions near the coast of Venezuela, according to a Global Strike Command spokesperson and a U.S. official, as the Trump administration continues to exert pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government.

U.S. flies B-52 bombers off the coast of Venezuela

A federal judge overturned a Homeland Security decision to cut anti-terrorism funding for New York City. The ruling comes as the Trump administration faces lawsuits from Democratic governors over similar cuts.

New York

Judge blocks Trump cuts to New York City's anti-terrorism funds

China has accused the U.S. of stoking panic over its rare earth controls and said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had made "grossly distorted" remarks about a top Chinese trade negotiator, rejecting a White House call to roll back the curbs.

Global Tariffs

China blames U.S. for global panic over rare earths controls

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had a "productive" phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and announced plans for a meeting with Putin in Hungary.

Breakdown