'The Bible is not a policy manual’: Christians reckon with immigration under Trump

In this episode of NPR's Up First Sunday story, host Aisha Roscoe highlights a discussion from NPR's It's Been a Minute, where host Brittany Lewis interviews NPR religion correspondent Jason DeRose and Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salgiero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and pastor in Orlando. They examine how U.S. churches are responding to Trump administration immigration enforcement, the government's use of biblical language to justify policies, and whether such rhetoric aligns with scripture.

Varied Church Responses to Immigration Enforcement

Churches show diverse reactions to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) actions like deportations, which have led to 25-30% drops in worship attendance in some Latino evangelical communities. Parents' detentions have placed children in foster care or with trusted guardians, sparking "righteous indignation" among Latino evangelicals. DeRose notes contrasts: white progressive churches in areas like Minneapolis organize street protests, following DHS agents with whistles, while predominantly Latino Catholic congregations in Los Angeles deliver groceries to fearful members avoiding services. Some white evangelical churches emphasize rule of law and support enforcement, aligning with strong Trump backing in polls. Salgiero stresses evangelicals are not monolithic—headlines often mean white evangelicals, overlooking nearly