“While this year it is still important for religious folks to hold pride services in our congregations, it is not enough,” Alliance President Paul Raushenbush said. “We need to go out from the sanctuary and show up to use our presence to help ensure the well-being of our LGBTQ siblings by neutralizing hateful attacks on LGBTQ people and pride events.”

A Texas Episcopal priest’s detention by ICE is a concerning development in the midst of the Trump administration's attack on religious freedom. It shows how unchecked enforcement threatens our faith communities and furthers an already eroding public trust.

The memorandum NSPM-7 enables the administration to investigate and prosecute individuals and entities it deems to be a threat to national security. In reality, NSPM-7 is a method to suppress free speech; it is not designed to actually address national security concerns.