Provocative Nativity Displays at US Places of Worship Offer Commentary on ICE
Throughout the United States, satirical holiday displays have appeared that comment on hardline government immigration crackdowns. These installations reimagine the classic Christmas story, portraying the newborn Jesus and his family, Joseph and Mary, as figures affected by the actions of enforcement agents.
A Stark Retelling in Evanston
One striking installation at a church in Evanston, Illinois features the infant Christ placed within a manger amidst snow. Yet, the doll is wrapped in the type of emergency blankets often distributed to those in custody and has its wrists secured by plastic restraints.
Nearby, the figure of the Virgin Mary is positioned just outside the church, wearing a gas mask. This item has been used by activists seeking protection from chemical agents. Beside her are figures of Roman soldiers, however in this scene they are dressed in body armor marked with the acronym “ICE.”
An Absent Holy Family
At a different Chicago place of worship, the customary models of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are conspicuously absent from the standard nativity scene with animals and Magi. Instead, a placard carries a direct statement: “Because of ICE activity in our neighborhood the Holy Family is in seclusion.”
“The holiday season is a time when we have public art out on the lawn and we get an chance to make a statement,” said a church leader involved with one of the displays.
Messages Spread Nationwide
These visual protests are extensions of the visible part played by religious communities in recent protests against immigration enforcement. Comparable political displays have been erected in other states.
In Massachusetts, a church removed the tiny figure of the baby Jesus from its creche. Left behind was a hand-painted sign that stated: “Immigration authorities were here.” Church officials are said to have stood defiant despite complaints from various religious and government leadership.
Linking Ancient Story and Modern Crisis
According to those behind these displays, framing the ancient story of the nativity within a contemporary political frame draws attention to current administrative agendas. They argue that the holy family’s status as displaced persons mirrors the actual anxieties and experiences of many households today, including family separation and the removal of breadwinning family members.
This is not the initial instance congregations have used nativity scenes for social commentary. Previously, installations have highlighted topics ranging from war to the climate crisis.
Facing Pushback and Enduring the Elements
The statements are not always universally welcomed. A church minister involved noted that some critics either do not fully understand the message or “consider it very difficult to their conscience and are lashing out at the display rather than considering what the actual meaning is.”
In a physical sense, the weather have also impacted one display. At a separate church, the statue of St. Joseph was knocked over in a windstorm and was unable to be restored. A replacement sign now occupies the space, stating: “Joseph was lost. We keep this place to memorialize all the victims of enforcement terror.”
