Political Christmas Displays at American Places of Worship Offer Commentary on ICE
Throughout the US, satirical holiday exhibits have appeared that critique hardline federal immigration policies. These installations reimagine the traditional nativity story, depicting the newborn Christ and his parents, Joseph and Mary, as victims caught up in the tactics of immigration authorities.
An Evocative Interpretation in a Chicago Suburb
One striking display at a church in Evanston, Illinois features baby Jesus lying in a manger out in the snow. However, the figure is wrapped in the type of thin, foil thermal blankets often given to those in custody and has its wrists secured by zip-ties.
Nearby, the statue of Mary stands just outside the church, equipped with a respirator. Such gear has been adopted by protesters seeking to guard against chemical agents. Beside her are figures of Roman soldiers, but in this scene they are wearing body armor labeled with the acronym “ICE.”
‘The Holy Family is in Hiding’
At a different Chicago church, the usual models of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are nowhere to be seen from the traditional nativity scene with camels and donkeys and wise men. Instead, a sign carries a direct message: “Because of enforcement actions in our neighborhood the holy family is in hiding.”
“The holiday season is a period when we have displays in front of the church and we get an opportunity to say something,” remarked a church leader involved with one of the installations.
Messages Spread Across the Country
These visual protests are extensions of the visible part taken by religious communities in ongoing demonstrations against federal policies. Similar socially conscious exhibits have appeared in other states.
In one New England state, a parish removed the tiny figure of the baby Jesus from its nativity scene. Left behind was a hand-painted notice that read: “ICE was here.” The parish reportedly stood defiant in the face of complaints from both diocesan and agency leadership.
Connecting Biblical Narrative and Contemporary Issue
According to the creators of these scenes, framing the ancient tale of the nativity within a contemporary political frame helps bring focus to current administrative priorities. They argue that the holy family’s status as refugees mirrors the real fears and realities of numerous families today, encompassing family separation and the removal of working family members.
This is not the first time churches have employed nativity scenes for political protest. In previous years, displays have highlighted issues ranging from war to the environmental emergency.
Encountering Pushback and Enduring the Elements
The messages are not always widely accepted. A clergy member participating noted that some critics either do not fully understand the message or “find it very difficult to their sense of right and wrong and are reacting negatively at the display rather than considering what the true meaning is.”
In a physical sense, the elements have also impacted one display. At a separate location, the figure of St. Joseph was blown down in a windstorm and could not be restored. A substitute notice now occupies the space, declaring: “Joseph didn’t make it. We keep this place to honor and remember all the victims of enforcement actions.”
