Dear Friends, NRCAT has joined more than 650 organizations in signing on to support the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act of 2025, federal legislation that was introduced last week in the U.S. Congress, in the House of Representatives by Rep. Espaillat and in the Senate by Sen. Blumenthal. Since 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Sensitive Locations policy, also known as the Protected Areas policy, generally prohibited immigration enforcement actions in places that provided vital services important to well-being, including places of worship, such as churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples, as well as faith-based food pantries and service providers. On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded the Protected Areas policy as it applies to immigration enforcement in previously protected areas. This move threatens the sacred tradition of sanctuary, the practice of welcoming immigrants and offering solidarity, support, and services regardless of immigration status in an environment that is free from the fear of immigration enforcement. For many of NRCAT’s organizational members from a diversity of faith traditions, sanctuary is a tradition rooted in our religious traditions’ core values of love, compassion, hospitality, and protection of the most vulnerable. TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Members of Congress to Support the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act that was introduced last week would codify this policy that has been in place for over a decade. Passage of this Act would once again provide immigrants with a sense of safety in houses of worship, as well as health care facilities, schools, childcare facilities and other places where everyone should have a right to access without fear. We invite you to write to your Members of Congress today using NRCAT’s e-advocacy platform to urge them to co-sponsor the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. Congress must act quickly so these basic protections for immigrant families are preserved. Thank you for taking action with us today to protect the safety and well-being of immigrants and the right of our religious communities to live out our sacred traditions of welcome and care. In community,
The NRCAT Team P.S. For a one pager on the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act of 2025, and a list of the over 650 organizations, including NRCAT, that have endorsed it, please click here. Among a number of useful resources, our UCC colleagues have offered this article to inform religious communities in this time. | 
