A Roman Catholic church in the United States has sparked controversy by using its traditional Christmas Nativity display as a pointed political protest against immigration enforcement.
A Stark Message in Place of the Holy Family
At St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, the customary figurines of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus were notably absent. In their place, the church installed a blunt sign reading "ICE was here"—a direct reference to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. A second placard directed observers to the LUCE Immigration Justice Network for support if they had encountered ICE operations.
The provocative installation was the idea of Reverend Stephen Josoma. It served as a protest against the large-scale deportations and enforcement actions carried out in major cities, including nearby Boston, under the immigration crackdown initiated by the Trump administration.
Mixed Reactions and a History of Activism
The display, reported on Wednesday 3 December 2025, elicited a divided response from the community and wider Catholic circles. While some parishioners expressed strong support for the church's stand, it faced sharp criticism from more conservative voices.
C.J. Doyle of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts condemned the action, labelling it as "divisive" and disrespectful to the sacred nature of the Christmas tradition.
This is not the first time St. Susanna Parish has utilised its Nativity scene for activist purposes. In 2018, during the first term of the Trump administration, the church made headlines by depicting baby Jesus confined within a cage. That powerful visual was intended to highlight the controversial policy of family separation at the US-Mexico border.
The Wider Context of Immigration Protests
The church's symbolic protest coincides with other direct actions against ICE operations across the country. The display was referenced alongside reports of activists in New York attempting to obstruct an ICE raid by forming human barricades and using rubbish bags, leading to several arrests.
This act of liturgical protest underscores the deep and ongoing national debate in America over immigration policy, enforcement methods, and the role of faith institutions in social justice movements. The replacement of a central Christian symbol with a message about government agency actions continues to fuel discussion about the intersection of faith, tradition, and political activism.
