Satirical Christmas Displays at US Churches Offer Commentary on Immigration Enforcement

Across the US, Christmas displays have appeared that critique hardline federal immigration enforcement crackdowns. These installations reimagine the traditional nativity story, portraying the newborn Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph, as figures caught up in the tactics of immigration authorities.

A Stark Retelling in a Chicago Suburb

One striking display at a congregation in Evanston, Illinois shows baby Jesus lying in a manger out in the snow. However, the figure is covered by the kind of emergency thermal blankets often distributed to those in custody and has its wrists secured by zip-ties.

Close by, the figure of Mary is positioned just outside the church, equipped with a respirator. This item has been adopted by protesters seeking to guard against chemical agents. She is flanked by representations of ancient soldiers, but in this scene they are dressed in tactical vests labeled with the letters “ICE.”

‘The Holy Family is in Hiding’

At a different Chicago church, the customary models of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are conspicuously absent from the traditional display featuring 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.”

“The holiday season is a time where we have displays out on the lawn and we get an opportunity to say something,” remarked a senior minister behind one of the displays.

Messages Spread Nationwide

These visual protests are extensions of the visible role played by religious communities in ongoing protests against federal policies. Comparable socially conscious displays have been erected in other states.

In Massachusetts, a church removed the tiny figure of Christ from its nativity scene. In its spot was a handmade notice that stated: “Immigration authorities were here.” Church officials reportedly stood defiant in the face of criticism from both religious and government officials.

Linking Biblical Narrative and Contemporary Issue

For the creators of these displays, presenting the age-old tale of the nativity within a modern political frame helps bring attention to ongoing administrative agendas. They contend that the holy family’s status as displaced persons parallels the actual anxieties and experiences of numerous families today, encompassing family separation and the deportation of breadwinning loved ones.

It is not the first time churches have used Christmas displays for political protest. Previously, displays have addressed issues ranging from conflict to the climate crisis.

Encountering Criticism and Weathering the Elements

The messages are not always universally welcomed. A church minister involved noted that some detractors either do not fully understand the intent or “find it very difficult to their conscience and are reacting negatively at the display rather than considering what the actual message is.”

In a physical way, the weather have also impacted one display. At a separate location, the statue of St. Joseph was blown down in a storm and could not be repaired. A substitute notice now occupies the space, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We keep this place to honor and remember all the those affected of enforcement terror.”