Provocative Nativity Scenes at American Churches Push Back on ICE
Throughout the United States, satirical holiday displays have appeared that mock aggressive government immigration enforcement policies. These installations reimagine the classic Christmas story, portraying the newborn Jesus and his family, Mary and Joseph, as victims caught up in the tactics of enforcement agents.
An Evocative Interpretation in Evanston
One powerful installation at a church in Evanston, Illinois shows the infant Christ placed within a crib out in the snow. Yet, the doll is wrapped in the type of thin, foil thermal blankets frequently distributed to detainees and has its wrists secured by zip-ties.
Nearby, the statue of Mary is positioned just outside the building, wearing a respirator. Such gear has been adopted by protesters seeking protection from tear gas. She is flanked by representations of Roman soldiers, however in this scene they are dressed in body armor labeled with the letters “ICE.”
An Absent Holy Family
At a different Windy City church, the usual models of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are nowhere to be seen from the standard nativity scene featuring animals and Magi. Instead, a sign bears a simple statement: “Because of enforcement actions in our community 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,” said a church leader involved with one of the installations.
Statements Echo Nationwide
These visual protests reflect the visible part played by religious communities in recent protests against immigration enforcement. Similar socially conscious displays have been erected in multiple states.
In Massachusetts, a church took away the tiny figure of Christ from its creche. Left behind was a hand-painted notice that read: “ICE was here.” The parish are said to have remained firm in the face of complaints from various diocesan and government leadership.
Linking Ancient Story and Modern Crisis
According to the creators of these displays, presenting the ancient story of Christ’s birth within a contemporary sociopolitical frame helps bring focus to ongoing administrative agendas. They contend that the family's status as refugees parallels the actual anxieties and realities of numerous households today, encompassing family separation and the deportation of working loved ones.
This is not the first time churches have used nativity scenes for political protest. Previously, installations have highlighted topics ranging from conflict to the environmental emergency.
Facing Criticism and Enduring the Elements
The statements are not always universally welcomed. A church minister participating commented that some detractors either misinterpret the intent or “find it very difficult to their conscience and are lashing out at the art rather than engaging with what the true meaning is.”
In a literal sense, the elements have also affected one scene. At a separate church, the statue of Joseph was blown down in a storm and could not be restored. A replacement sign now occupies the spot, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We keep this place to memorialize all the victims of immigration enforcement actions.”
