A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit upheld a lower-court order. It bars Homeland Security from immigration enforcement at or near the houses of worship in the case. That covers more than 1,400 congregations, and no others. They sued after DHS ended the "sensitive locations" policy in January 2025. The rule barred immigration arrests at churches, schools and hospitals. Four administrations kept it, starting with a 1993 memo.
Appeals court keeps immigration agents away from 1,400 houses of worship in 33 states
What we’re less sure of4 of 5 claims
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The injunction covers more than 1,400 congregations.
Specific figure appears in the story and headline but is attributed to a single outlet with no named court filing or plaintiff cited.
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The order applies across 33 states and Washington, D.C.
Geographic scope stated consistently in headline and body, but sourced only to the single Stateline report.
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The ruling preserves (rather than creates) existing limits on immigration enforcement near churches, meaning a lower court injunction was already in place.
Implied by 'upheld an injunction' and the source headline's 'preserves,' but the underlying district-court order is not described or dated.
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The 4th Circuit panel's decision was issued on or about August 19, 2026.
Inferred from the source URL's publication date, which reflects when the story ran rather than a confirmed date of the court's order.