Church showcases Nativity scene with baby Jesus restrained in zip ties, ICE officials

A church near Chicago has unveiled a Nativity display portraying baby Jesus with zip-tied wrists, while Mary and Joseph wear gas masks. The church described the scene as illustrating "forced family separation" in the context of heightened federal immigration enforcement.

The installation at Lake Street Church in Evanston, roughly 15 miles from downtown Chicago, also features the infant wrapped in a mylar-style emergency blanket and immigration agents in helmets and robes, resembling Roman soldiers. According to the church, the imagery is intended to reflect the experience of migrants and community members, including children, who have been detained during immigration raids.

"This exhibit is intentionally stark because the issue it addresses is real and urgent," the church stated on social media. The gas masks symbolize the use of tear gas by federal agents during confrontations with protesters.

The Department of Homeland Security has denied that any childrens wrists were physically restrained. The church said the display aims to connect the traditional Christmas storycentered on refuge, sanctuary, and familywith contemporary immigration policies, prompting viewers to reflect on the gap between moral values and government actions.

Rev. Michael Woolf, minister at Lake Street Church, was previously arrested during a protest outside a federal immigration facility in Broadview, Illinois. A widely circulated photo showed him detained on the ground. The church emphasizes its commitment to social justice, opposing racism and discrimination, and advocates for humane treatment of all immigrants seeking entry to the U.S.

The immigration enforcement in Chicago intensified in September when federal authorities, under President Donald Trump's direction, deployed the National Guard. The operations, named Operation Midway Blitz, have sparked protests and occasional clashes with law enforcement.

Chicago is among several major cities, including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, experiencing increased federal immigration enforcement. In New Orleans, Operation Catahoula Crunch was launched focusing on violent offenders, though many detainees nationwide have had no criminal history. Court records in Chicago showed that of 600 arrested individuals, only 16 had prior convictions.

Author: Chloe Ramirez