🔗 Share this article Satirical Christmas Scenes at US Churches Push Back on Immigration Enforcement Across the US, satirical holiday exhibits have appeared that comment on aggressive government immigration enforcement policies. These scenes reimagine the classic Christmas story, portraying the newborn Christ and his family, Mary and Joseph, as figures caught up in the actions of enforcement agents. A Stark Retelling in Evanston One powerful installation at a congregation in Evanston, Illinois features the infant Christ placed within a crib out in the snow. However, the doll is covered by the kind of thin, foil thermal blankets often given to those in custody and has its wrists bound with zip-ties. Close by, the statue of the Virgin Mary stands outside the church, wearing a respirator. This item has been used by protesters seeking protection from chemical agents. She is flanked by figures of ancient soldiers, however in this display they are dressed in tactical vests labeled with the acronym “ICE.” An Absent Holy Family At a different Windy City church, the usual models of the holy family are conspicuously absent from the standard nativity scene featuring animals and wise men. Instead, a placard carries a direct statement: “Due to enforcement actions in our community the holy family is in hiding.” “The holiday season is a time when we have public art in front of the church and we get an opportunity to say something,” said a senior minister involved with one of the installations. Messages Echo Across the Country These visual protests reflect the visible role taken by faith leaders in recent protests against federal policies. Comparable socially conscious displays have been erected in multiple states. In Massachusetts, a parish removed the small statue of the baby Jesus from its nativity scene. Left behind was a hand-painted sign that read: “Immigration authorities were here.” The parish reportedly stood defiant in the face of complaints from various diocesan and agency officials. Connecting Biblical Narrative and Modern Crisis According to those behind these displays, framing the age-old story of Christ’s birth within a contemporary political context helps bring focus to ongoing government priorities. They contend that the holy family’s experience as refugees parallels the real anxieties and experiences of numerous households today, including being torn apart and the deportation of working family members. It is not the initial instance churches have employed nativity scenes for social commentary. Previously, installations have highlighted issues ranging from war to the climate crisis. Facing Criticism and Weathering Storms The messages are not always widely accepted. A church minister participating noted that some critics either misinterpret the message or “find it very challenging to their sense of right and wrong and are reacting negatively at the art rather than considering what the true message is.” In a physical way, the weather have also affected one display. At another location, the figure of Joseph was blown down in a storm and was unable to be repaired. A substitute notice now occupies the space, stating: “Joseph was lost. We hold this space to honor and remember all the those affected of immigration enforcement terror.”
Across the US, satirical holiday exhibits have appeared that comment on aggressive government immigration enforcement policies. These scenes reimagine the classic Christmas story, portraying the newborn Christ and his family, Mary and Joseph, as figures caught up in the actions of enforcement agents. A Stark Retelling in Evanston One powerful installation at a congregation in Evanston, Illinois features the infant Christ placed within a crib out in the snow. However, the doll is covered by the kind of thin, foil thermal blankets often given to those in custody and has its wrists bound with zip-ties. Close by, the statue of the Virgin Mary stands outside the church, wearing a respirator. This item has been used by protesters seeking protection from chemical agents. She is flanked by figures of ancient soldiers, however in this display they are dressed in tactical vests labeled with the acronym “ICE.” An Absent Holy Family At a different Windy City church, the usual models of the holy family are conspicuously absent from the standard nativity scene featuring animals and wise men. Instead, a placard carries a direct statement: “Due to enforcement actions in our community the holy family is in hiding.” “The holiday season is a time when we have public art in front of the church and we get an opportunity to say something,” said a senior minister involved with one of the installations. Messages Echo Across the Country These visual protests reflect the visible role taken by faith leaders in recent protests against federal policies. Comparable socially conscious displays have been erected in multiple states. In Massachusetts, a parish removed the small statue of the baby Jesus from its nativity scene. Left behind was a hand-painted sign that read: “Immigration authorities were here.” The parish reportedly stood defiant in the face of complaints from various diocesan and agency officials. Connecting Biblical Narrative and Modern Crisis According to those behind these displays, framing the age-old story of Christ’s birth within a contemporary political context helps bring focus to ongoing government priorities. They contend that the holy family’s experience as refugees parallels the real anxieties and experiences of numerous households today, including being torn apart and the deportation of working family members. It is not the initial instance churches have employed nativity scenes for social commentary. Previously, installations have highlighted issues ranging from war to the climate crisis. Facing Criticism and Weathering Storms The messages are not always widely accepted. A church minister participating noted that some critics either misinterpret the message or “find it very challenging to their sense of right and wrong and are reacting negatively at the art rather than considering what the true message is.” In a physical way, the weather have also affected one display. At another location, the figure of Joseph was blown down in a storm and was unable to be repaired. A substitute notice now occupies the space, stating: “Joseph was lost. We hold this space to honor and remember all the those affected of immigration enforcement terror.”