Presidential Candidates Discuss Muslim Immigration Ban, Mosque Surveillance
Written by Don Byrd
Paris Attack Leads to Calls for Religious Discrimination in Law Enforcement, Immigration
Written by Don Byrd
BJC, others oppose religious profiling in immigration bill
By Bob Allen, Associated Baptist Press
As the Senate opened formal debate on a proposal for comprehensive immigration reform, the Baptist Joint Committee and a group of religious organizations called on senators to include a ban on religious profiling in the final package.
From the May 2013 Report from the Capital
BJC, Others Urge Senate to Ban Religious Profiling in Immigration Legislation
Written by Don ByrdIn a statement released today, signed by the Baptist Joint Committee’s Brent Walker, religious liberty advocates urge Congress to ban religious profiling by law enforcement in immigration legislation currently being debated in the U.S. Senate. Here is an excerpt
Judge Temporarily Halts Alabama Immigration Law
Citing the need for courts to spend weeks analyzing concerns about the bill, a federal judge in Alabama has issued a temporary injunction halting the state's controversial new immigration bill. Judge [Sharon] Blackburn indicated that at this stage her ruling...Judge Skeptical of AL Immigration Law, but Not out of First Amendment Concerns
The good news for religious groups opposing Alabama's harsh new immigration law is that in a lengthy hearing today, federal judge Sharon Blackburn sounded skeptical of the bill, saying it has "a lot of problems," according to reports. Judge Blackburn...Alabama Wants State Supreme Court to Hear Immigration Law Challenge
With a suit pending in federal court to consider the constitutionality of the state's new immigration law, Alabama's Attorney General has asked the judge to move the case to state court to interpret the state's religious freedom amendment. Religious...Alabama Churches File Suit, Claim Immigration Law Violates Religious Freedom Rights
In a lawsuit filed earlier today, representatives of Alabama's Roman Catholic, Episcopalian and Methodist churches claimed the state's new immigration law unlawfully restricts their ability to exercise their faith. The Birmingham News' Kent Faulk offers...9th Circuit Rejects Theology Questions as Basis for Immigration Hearing
In a truly interesting decision, the 9th Circuit has reversed an immigration judge's who earlier denied the asylum request of Lei Li, a citizen of China. Li claims to be a Christian who was being persecuted for his faith, so the judge asked him "basic...S7, Ep. 05: A religious freedom case flying under the radar: SCOTUS hears Landor v. Louisiana Dept. of Corrections
One religious freedom case at the Supreme Court isn’t getting the sort of attention as others, despite how it’s uniting groups that often disagree. So, why did the justices sound so skeptical in the courtroom? Amanda and Holly review this week’s oral arguments in Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections, which involves the remedy available to a man whose religious freedom rights were violated when he was in prison. The violation isn’t in question, so why is the remedy? Amanda and Holly review the details in this case, play audio from key moments in the courtroom, and discuss the statute that protects prisoners’ religious freedom rights: The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.
S7, Ep. 04: Criminalizing Mercy: Sanctuary and Government Repression of Migrant Justice
Today, we are bringing you a special presentation on the contested issue of “sanctuary,” which continues to cut into the immigration debates in our country. Dr. Sergio M. González traces the sanctuary movement to its roots in the 1980s and examines how we arrived at a moment where mercy is met with repression. This presentation was given on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., on Oct. 22, 2025, as part of BJC’s annual Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lecture Series on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State.
S7, Ep. 02: Amanda and Holly LIVE on peaceful protests, the impact of the government shutdown, and more
In this LIVE conversation, Amanda and Holly take a moment to catch up and review some of the recent news since last week’s program. They discuss how religious leaders have been engaging in peaceful protests of immigration raids, how the ongoing government shutdown is impacting court cases, a change in Oklahoma regarding Bible teaching in public schools, and more. This show first aired live on Thursday, October 23, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time on BJC’s YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram channels.
