Update on Lawsuit’s First Hearing

Plaintiffs in the Mennonite Church USA et al. v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al.

Last Friday, April 4, Fellowship Southwest and over two dozen other plaintiffs were represented by the Institute for Constitutional and Advocacy Protection (ICAP) at Georgetown Law at the lawsuit’s first hearing in federal district court in Washington, D.C. Anyra Cano attended the hearing and the previous night’s interfaith prayer vigil on behalf of Fellowship Southwest.

Cano and the other plaintiffs were able to be present in the courtroom for the entirety of the hearing. She shared details about the proceedings in a video on social media yesterday. You can watch that here. Overall, the judge asked insightful questions of both parties and the ICAP lawyer representing FSW was thorough, thoughtful and well prepared. The judge announced that she would issue a decision in another week or two. We should hear of her decision any day now. Please be in prayer for the judge as she weighs this decision.

Fellowship Southwest is grateful to ICAP for the opportunity to speak out for justice and to defend the religious freedom of congregations who feel called to do ministry with immigrants. We are also grateful to our network for the prayer and support you have given during this process.