Urge Your Members of Congress to Pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act


August 10, 2026

Right now, there are no policies in place to prevent federal immigration enforcement agents from deliberately targeting spaces that represent key pillars of civic, religious, and community life. The threat of immigration enforcement at “sensitive locations” – such as houses of worship, schools, hospitals, courthouses, food pantries, and places where people receive essential services – is preventing refugees and immigrants across the country from accessing the resources they need.

The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (H.R. 1061/S.455) would limit immigration enforcement at sensitive locations or within 1,000 feet of such places. See CWS’s explainer for more on the bill and the history of sensitive locations protections.

Use the tool below to urge your elected officials to codify limits on immigration enforcement so refugees and immigrants can seek spiritual support, education, medical care, and other key resources without the fear of arrest, detention, or separation from their families.

Why Sensitive Locations Protections Matter:

In the three decades leading up to the second Trump administration, Democratic and Republican presidents alike maintained policies limiting immigration enforcement in sensitive locations.

Then, on the first day of President Trump’s second term, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rescinded the most recent version of the guidance, which had advised federal immigration enforcement agents to avoid making arrests at places where people receive essential services. Decisions about enforcement in or near sensitive locations are now largely up to individual officers’ discretion. Today, many members of our communities live in fear that they may face arrest while participating in worship services, pursuing an education, receiving health care, or attending immigration court hearings.

With a one-page memo, the Trump administration erased over 30 years of precedent that upheld religious freedom and safeguarded families’ access to essential services because Congress still hasn’t codified limitations on immigration enforcement activity in sensitive locations. 

Both Democratic and Republican Members of Congress have publicly recognized that sensitive locations protections are necessary to uphold religious freedom and ensure community members can safely access crucial services.

The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act – led in the 119th Congress by Representative Adriano Espaillat and Senator Richard Blumenthal – would restore the sense of security that community members need so that they can fully engage with the resources and opportunities that strengthen congregations, neighborhoods, and local economies.

EMAIL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Using the tool above, you can send an email to your Member of Congress.

Sample Email: “My name is [insert name], and as your constituent from [City/Town] and a [person of faith/refugee/member of community], I urge you to cosponsor and pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (H.R. 1061/S.455) to limit immigration enforcement at houses of worship, schools, hospitals, courthouses, and other places where people receive essential services.

For over 30 years, Democratic and Republican presidential administrations maintained policies limiting immigration enforcement at or near “sensitive locations,” recognizing that all communities stand to benefit when everyone can attend religious services, take their children to school, go to the doctor, or appear in court without fear.

On the first day of President Trump’s second term, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) upended decades of precedent by rescinding guidance limiting immigration enforcement actions at sensitive locations.

Congress must pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act so that everyone can attend religious services, pursue an education, and receive health care without fearing arrest, detention, deportation, and separation from their family.

The legislation would limit immigration enforcement at or within 1,000 feet of locations such as:

  • Places of worship and sites of religious ceremonies
  • Health care facilities
  • Schools and educational settings
  • Child-focused locations, including childcare centers, foster care facilities, playgrounds, and school bus stops
  • Disaster relief and social service locations, including shelters, food banks, and community service providers
  • Civic and government locations, such as courthouses, congressional offices, Social Security offices, DMVs, and polling places
  • Public institutions, including libraries and labor union halls 

The bill includes exceptions for “exigent” circumstances involving threats to public safety, and establishes guardrails requiring officers to track and report in writing all instances in which they invoke exceptions to perform immigration enforcement at or near sensitive locations.

I urge you to support the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act so that everyone in our community can freely exercise their religion, access the services they need, and fully participate in civic life.”

CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Call your federal elected officials using the tool above.

“My name is [insert name], and as your constituent from [City/Town], I urge you to support the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. The bill limits immigration enforcement at houses of worship, schools, hospitals, courthouses, and other places where people receive essential services.

For over 30 years leading up to the second Trump administration, Democratic and Republican presidential administrations maintained policies limiting immigration enforcement at or near sensitive locations. President Trump rescinded the policy on the first day of his second term.

Now, immigrants, refugees, and their family members across the country are increasingly afraid to participate in religious services, attend school, or seek medical care, fearing that they could be arrested, detained and deported.

I urge you to support the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act so that everyone in our community can freely exercise their religion, access the services they need, and fully participate in civic life.”

POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Share this message with your elected officials on social media. See below for sample posts:

[@legislator]: The Constitution protects everyone’s right to freely exercise their religion. Pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act so that all of our neighbors can attend worship services without fearing arrest, detention, and deportation. #ICEout

[@legislator]: Support the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act so our neighbors can exercise their religion, pursue an education, access medical care, and participate in the life of our community without the threat of immigration enforcement. #ImmigrantsWelcome

[@legislator]: When members of our community can safely seek out the resources and opportunities that strengthen our congregations, neighborhoods, and local economies, we all stand to benefit. Pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. #ICEout

Additional Resources: