Provocative Nativity Displays at American Churches Push Back on Immigration Enforcement

Throughout the United States, satirical holiday exhibits have appeared that mock hardline government immigration crackdowns. These installations reimagine the classic nativity story, depicting the newborn Christ and his parents, Joseph and Mary, as victims caught up in the tactics of enforcement agents.

A Stark Retelling in a Chicago Suburb

One striking installation at a congregation in the Chicago suburb of Evanston shows baby Jesus lying in a manger amidst snow. However, the figure is wrapped in the kind of thin, foil blankets often given to those in custody and has its hands bound with zip-ties.

Close by, the statue of Mary is positioned outside the church, wearing a respirator. This item has been used by activists attempting to guard against tear gas. She is flanked by figures of ancient soldiers, but in this scene they are dressed in body armor labeled with the acronym “ICE.”

An Absent Holy Family

At a different Windy City church, the usual figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are nowhere to be seen from the standard nativity scene with camels and donkeys and wise men. Instead, a placard bears a direct statement: “Because of enforcement actions in our community the Holy Family is in seclusion.”

“Christmas is a time where we have displays in front of the church and we get an chance to make a statement,” said a church leader behind one of the installations.

Messages Echo Nationwide

These visual protests reflect the visible part played by faith leaders in recent demonstrations against immigration enforcement. Similar political displays have been erected in multiple states.

In one New England state, a parish took away the tiny figure of Christ from its creche. Left behind was a hand-painted sign that stated: “ICE was here.” Church officials are said to have stood defiant despite complaints from various diocesan and government leadership.

Linking Ancient Story and Contemporary Issue

According to those behind these scenes, framing the age-old tale of the nativity within a contemporary political frame helps bring attention to current administrative agendas. They contend that the holy family’s experience as refugees mirrors the real anxieties and realities of numerous households today, encompassing family separation and the deportation of breadwinning loved ones.

It is not the initial instance churches have employed nativity scenes for political protest. Previously, displays have addressed issues ranging from conflict to the environmental emergency.

Encountering Pushback and Weathering Storms

The messages are not always widely accepted. A clergy member involved noted that some critics either misinterpret the intent or “find it very challenging to their conscience and are reacting negatively at the art rather than engaging with what the actual meaning is.”

In a literal sense, the elements have also affected one display. At another location, the figure of St. Joseph was knocked over in a windstorm and could not be restored. A substitute notice now occupies the spot, stating: “Joseph was lost. We hold this space to honor and remember all the victims of enforcement actions.”