Provocative Nativity Displays at US Places of Worship Offer Commentary on Immigration Enforcement

Across the United States, Christmas displays are on display that critique aggressive government immigration crackdowns. These scenes retell the classic Christmas story, depicting the infant Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph, as figures affected by the tactics of immigration authorities.

A Stark Interpretation in a Chicago Suburb

One powerful installation at a church in the Chicago suburb of Evanston features the infant Christ lying in a crib out in the snow. Yet, the figure is covered by the kind of thin, foil blankets frequently distributed to detainees and has its wrists bound with plastic restraints.

Close by, the statue of the Virgin Mary stands outside the church, equipped with a gas mask. This item has been used by protesters seeking to guard against chemical agents. She is flanked by figures of Roman soldiers, however in this display they are wearing body armor labeled with the acronym “ICE.”

An Absent Holy Family

At a different Windy City church, the usual models of the holy family are nowhere to be seen from the standard nativity scene featuring camels and donkeys and Magi. In their place, a sign carries a simple message: “Due to ICE activity in our community the Holy Family is in seclusion.”

“Christmas is a period where we have public art in front of the church and we get an opportunity to make a statement,” said a church leader involved with one of the installations.

Messages Spread Nationwide

These visual protests reflect the prominent role played by religious communities in ongoing demonstrations against federal policies. Comparable socially conscious exhibits have appeared in multiple states.

In one New England state, a parish removed the small statue of Christ from its creche. In its spot was a handmade sign that stated: “ICE was here.” The parish reportedly stood defiant in the face of complaints from both diocesan and government leadership.

Connecting Biblical Narrative and Contemporary Issue

According to those behind these scenes, presenting the ancient tale of Christ’s birth within a contemporary political context helps bring attention to ongoing administrative priorities. They contend that the holy family’s experience as refugees mirrors the actual anxieties and realities of numerous households today, including being torn apart and the deportation of working loved ones.

It is not the initial instance congregations have employed nativity scenes for social commentary. In previous years, displays have highlighted topics ranging from conflict to the climate crisis.

Encountering Pushback and Weathering the Elements

The messages are not always widely accepted. A church minister participating noted that some critics either do not fully understand the message or “consider it really difficult to their conscience and are lashing out at the art rather than engaging with what the actual message is.”

In a literal sense, the weather have also impacted one display. At a separate location, the statue of St. Joseph was blown down in a windstorm and was unable to be repaired. A replacement sign now marks the space, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We hold this space to memorialize all the victims of immigration enforcement actions.”