Satirical Christmas Displays at US Places of Worship Offer Commentary on ICE

Throughout the US, Christmas exhibits are on display that comment on aggressive government immigration policies. These installations reimagine the classic Christmas story, depicting the infant Christ and his family, Joseph and Mary, as victims caught up in the tactics of immigration authorities.

A Stark Retelling in Evanston

One powerful display at a church in the Chicago suburb of Evanston shows baby Jesus placed within a manger out in the snow. Yet, the doll is covered by the type of emergency blankets often given to those in custody and has its hands bound with plastic restraints.

Nearby, the statue of Mary is positioned just outside the building, wearing a gas mask. Such gear has been used by protesters attempting to guard against chemical agents. Beside her are representations of Roman soldiers, but in this display they are dressed in body armor marked with the letters “ICE.”

An Absent Holy Family

At another Chicago church, the customary figures of the holy family are nowhere to be seen from the traditional nativity scene featuring animals and wise men. In their place, a sign carries a simple message: “Due to enforcement actions in our neighborhood the Holy Family is in seclusion.”

“The holiday season is a time where we have displays out on the lawn and we get an opportunity to say something,” said a senior minister behind one of the installations.

Messages Spread Across the Country

These artistic statements are extensions of the visible role taken by religious communities in ongoing protests against federal policies. Comparable political exhibits have appeared in other states.

In one New England state, a church removed the small statue of the baby Jesus from its creche. In its spot was a hand-painted sign that stated: “Immigration authorities were here.” Church officials are said to have stood defiant despite criticism from both religious and agency leadership.

Linking Ancient Story and Contemporary Issue

For those behind these displays, framing the age-old story of Christ’s birth within a contemporary political context helps bring focus to current administrative agendas. They argue that the family's status as refugees parallels the actual anxieties and experiences of many families today, encompassing family separation and the deportation of breadwinning loved ones.

This is not the initial instance congregations have employed nativity scenes for social commentary. Previously, installations have highlighted topics ranging from conflict to the climate crisis.

Facing Pushback and Enduring Storms

The messages are not always widely accepted. A church minister participating noted that some critics either misinterpret the intent or “find it very challenging to their conscience and are reacting negatively at the art rather than considering what the true meaning is.”

In a literal sense, the weather have also impacted one display. At another location, the figure of St. Joseph was blown down in a windstorm and could not be repaired. A substitute notice now occupies the space, declaring: “Joseph was lost. We hold this space to memorialize all the those affected of immigration enforcement terror.”