Welcome to the centralized information hub for the PYM Lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. This section contains information pertaining to the lawsuit arranged by updates, meeting affirmations, news, and information regarding how to handle incursions by the DHS.
On February 24 2025, the U.S. District Court of Maryland issued an order blocking the Trump administration’s policy enabling immigration officials to enter houses of worship indiscriminately to conduct immigration enforcement operations. Friends can read the full order here, and read Democracy Forward’s post about it here. Democracy Forward shares updates on the case’s legal proceedings here.
Meetings are encouraged to utilize these signs at their property. This resource was adapted from materials that were originally made by Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
Please find additional information about this lawsuit below.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
On August 18, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the U.S. District Court of Maryland order blocking a Trump-Vance administration policy that seeks to give immigration officers free rein to carry out enforcement actions at or near the houses of worship of the plaintiffs while this litigation proceeds.
As a result of the August 18 decision, the district court’s injunction protecting the plaintiffs remains in place. The injunction protects the worship spaces of PYM’s affiliated meetings from unrestrained immigration enforcement. (More information and resources are located on this page.)
The district court previously concluded that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claims challenging the administration’s policy and entered a preliminary injunction imposing guardrails on immigration-enforcement actions at or near the plaintiffs’ houses of worship to protect their rights while the case proceeds.
Chris Mohr, PYM’s General Secretary, said:
“As lead plaintiff in PYM vs. DHS, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends (PYM) celebrates today’s ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. We are relieved that our meetinghouses continue to be safe for all community members to gather for worship while the case moves through the legal process. Quakers strongly support religious freedom, following one’s conscience, and acting on one’s convictions. And PYM Quakers have welcomed other religions to our region since before the founding of our country. Thus we look forward to a day when all houses of worship, not just those of PYM, will once again be safe for all their congregants to worship freely together.”
Selden Smith, PYM’s Presiding Clerk, also commented:
“This is an important victory for religious liberty. Our Quaker form of worship, in which all ministry emerges from the congregation, is strengthened by the presence of immigrants and threatened by the prospect of ICE raids. We welcome this ruling, which upholds, for the moment, a longstanding government policy constraining such raids. It is good news not just for Quakers but for everyone who cares about religious freedom in America.”
General Secretary Timeline and Lawsuit Archived Updates
A tmeline of the DHS Lawsuit and archived updates from the PYM General Secretary.
News and Minutes of Support
A feed of various updated information and supportive minutes of affirmation from Meetings.
DHS Lawsuit Press Coverage
This page lists the various news outlets that mentioned and covered the stories of the lawsuit. .
Frequently Asked Questions
A compiled list of questions and answers to help understand the various aspects of the lawsuits.
For more information or additional questions, please contact Selden W. Smith, Presiding Clerk of PYM, at ssmith@pym.org, or Chris Mohr, General Secretary of PYM, at cmohr@pym.org.
