Satirical Nativity Scenes at American Churches Push Back on Immigration Enforcement

Across the United States, satirical holiday exhibits have appeared that mock hardline government immigration enforcement crackdowns. These installations reimagine the traditional Christmas story, depicting the newborn Jesus and his family, Mary and Joseph, as figures caught up in the tactics of enforcement agents.

An Evocative Retelling in a Chicago Suburb

One striking installation at a church in Evanston, Illinois features baby Jesus lying in a manger amidst snow. Yet, the doll is wrapped in the kind of emergency blankets often given to those in custody and has its hands bound with plastic restraints.

Nearby, the figure of Mary is positioned outside the church, wearing a gas mask. This item has been used by activists attempting to guard against tear gas. She is flanked by representations of Roman soldiers, but in this scene they are dressed in body armor marked with the letters “ICE.”

An Absent Holy Family

At a different Windy City place of worship, the customary models of the holy family are conspicuously absent from the traditional display featuring animals and Magi. Instead, a placard carries a direct statement: “Due to enforcement actions in our community the Holy Family is in seclusion.”

“Christmas is a time where we have displays out on the lawn and we get an chance to say something,” remarked a senior minister involved with one of the installations.

Messages Spread Across the Country

These visual protests reflect the prominent part taken by faith leaders in ongoing demonstrations against federal policies. Similar socially conscious displays have appeared in other states.

In Massachusetts, a parish took away the tiny figure of the baby Jesus from its nativity scene. In its spot was a handmade notice that read: “Immigration authorities were here.” Church officials are said to have remained firm despite complaints from various religious and agency leadership.

Connecting Biblical Narrative and Contemporary Issue

For the creators of these displays, framing the age-old tale of Christ’s birth within a modern political context helps bring focus to ongoing administrative agendas. They argue that the family's experience as displaced persons parallels the real fears and realities of numerous households today, including being torn apart and the removal of breadwinning family members.

This is not the initial instance congregations have employed Christmas displays for political protest. Previously, installations have addressed topics ranging from war to the environmental emergency.

Encountering Pushback and Enduring the Elements

The messages are not always universally welcomed. A clergy member involved commented that some critics either do not fully understand the message or “find it very difficult to their conscience and are lashing out at the display rather than engaging with what the true message is.”

In a literal sense, the weather have also affected one scene. At a separate church, the statue of Joseph was blown down in a windstorm and was unable to be repaired. A substitute notice now marks the spot, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We keep this place to memorialize all the those affected of enforcement actions.”