The US Department of Homeland Security stated that conservative Christian blogger Samuel Sey will be deported following his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Columbus, Ohio. Sey, originally from Ghana, was detained at Columbus International Airport on October 21. DHS claims he overstayed his visa by four years after entering in 2022. Supporters, including influencers Allie Beth Stuckey and Joel Berry, argue the arrest resulted from a clerical error and have launched a crowdfunding campaign for his legal defense. Sey’s wife maintains he entered legally and is seeking permanent residency. The case has drawn attention due to Sey’s previous public support for ICE enforcement.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Syahirah Salleh on UnsplashPersecuted church
Religion News Service has released its weekly photo selection, highlighting two major events. The collection features images from Durga Puja celebrations. It also includes photographs documenting an attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan. The outlet presents these visuals to provide a snapshot of significant religious and cultural moments occurring around the world during this period.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Annie Spratt on UnsplashGood news and persecution
More than 150 evangelicals gathered in downtown Chicago on October 26 to pray for asylum seekers. Organizers held the rally near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office to highlight a sharp decline in asylum approvals. Data shows Chicago approvals dropped from over 40% in January 2025 to 3.3% in 2026. Pastors and attendees cited concerns about rushed hearings and judge turnover under the second Trump administration. Participants called for fair treatment and justice for immigrants facing deportation proceedings.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Avi Theret on UnsplashPersecuted church
American Rabbi Alissa Wise was denied entry to Israel at Ben Gurion Airport on October 25 while leading a delegation to help Palestinians harvest olives in the West Bank. Border officials cited public security concerns, and Wise was deported back to the United States within two hours. Although her group of 19 Jews, including 14 rabbis, was allowed to enter, Wise stated the decision reflects Israel's broader restrictions on activists supporting Palestinians. This incident follows recent violence against international delegations during the annual harvest season, which is economically vital for West Bank farmers but has seen increased attacks by settlers.
On October 11, 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis attempted a mass shooting at the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple in Aurora, Illinois. Prosecutors state his assault-style rifle jammed, allowing him to flee before co-workers alerted authorities. Paporakis was arrested and charged with making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapon possession. He had shared a manifesto expressing white supremacist views and intent to kill Indian people. The incident highlights rising security concerns for places of worship, as extremists increasingly target religious sites based on political or racial animus rather than spiritual significance.
An Associated Press investigation reveals that police in Uttar Pradesh, India, have shot hundreds of suspects accused of cow smuggling, primarily targeting Muslims. The Center for the Study of Organized Hate documented nearly 650 cases since 2020 where bullets consistently struck the legs. While police claim these are self-defense actions under a zero-tolerance policy, activists and judges describe them as extrajudicial intimidation that undermines the rule of law. The practice, known locally as Operation Lame, has drawn criticism for disproportionately affecting the Muslim minority and creating a culture of impunity within the state's law enforcement agencies.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on November 3, 2026, regarding whether religious preschools receiving public funding must comply with state nondiscrimination rules. The case, St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, originated in Colorado, where faith-based providers challenged requirements prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Lower courts upheld the rules as neutral conditions for taxpayer money. Legal experts note the decision could significantly impact civil rights protections and the eligibility of religious organizations for public support in education and social services. A ruling is expected by late spring 2027.
Molis Augustave, a Haitian pastor and immigrant rights organizer from Pennsylvania, wrote a letter from an ICE detention center in the US. After being stopped for a broken headlight, he was detained and nearly deported to Haiti. Although he was removed from a deportation flight, 89 others were sent. Augustave describes leading Bible studies and supporting fellow detainees. He was eventually deported to Haiti on September 24. The article highlights the human cost of immigration detention and the dignity of those whose stories remain unknown. The Department of Homeland Security did not comment. (RNS)
President Donald Trump announced on October 15 that the Pentagon will not livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter. This decision reverses Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s earlier proposal and follows intense pushback from religious leaders. Polls showed strong opposition across various faith groups, including Catholics and evangelicals. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other denominations condemned the plan as promoting a culture of death. While some pastors initially supported the broadcast, they now back Trump’s reversal. Hasan is scheduled to be executed by firing squad in December for the 2009 attack that killed 13 people.
Archbishop Mitchell Thomas Rozanski and the Archdiocese of St. Louis filed a lawsuit in Missouri against the federal government and local authorities. The complaint alleges that restrictions at the Sainte Genevieve County Detention Center violate religious freedom by barring priests from administering sacraments like confession and Communion. Plaintiffs argue these rules disproportionately hinder pastoral care compared to secular visitors. The Department of Homeland Security denied the claims, stating detainees retain religious access. This marks the first time a Catholic bishop has individually joined such litigation, adding to similar cases in Illinois and Minnesota that have previously secured temporary access rulings for clergy.
A months-long migration crisis in Ceuta, Spain, has intensified tensions between its Christian and Muslim communities. In late July, approximately 80,000 people entered the exclave from Morocco, with up to 15,000 remaining and straining local resources. Residents report that the burden has fallen unevenly on Muslim neighborhoods, leading to protests and accusations of divided loyalty. Although King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are visiting to address the situation, locals describe a breakdown in the historic coexistence that defined the city. The crisis highlights deep-seated socioeconomic disparities and has left the community exhausted and divided.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the US Military Services asked Catholic service members to request exemption from participating in the planned livestreamed execution of Nidal Hasan on December 3. The archdiocese stated that participation violates Church teaching and warned of moral injury to soldiers and audiences. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the broadcast, drawing condemnation from Pope Leo XIV, Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley, and evangelical and Methodist leaders. Critics argue the move promotes a culture of death and damages the military's reputation by resembling practices in Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Department of Defense declined to comment on exemption requests.
Texas pastor Joel Webbon posted a social media message calling for the public execution of Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel. The comment appeared during an online debate regarding the Pentagon's plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan. Webbon, known for antisemitic views, labeled Huckabee a traitor. Huckabee responded by supporting calls for the FBI to investigate Webbon. Conservative author Everett Piper also urged an investigation, describing the remarks as a dangerous threat against a public official. The incident highlights growing tensions within some Christian circles regarding support for Israel and antisemitism.
Bishop Dennis G. Walsh of Davenport, Iowa, wrote to the Trump administration to stop the deportation of Fatou Traore, an immigrant from Ivory Coast. Traore is currently detained in Louisiana after being arrested in Iowa. Walsh argued that sending her to Sierra Leone, where she has no connections, violates her human dignity. He contacted DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and several Iowa lawmakers for intervention. This action reflects a broader trend of Catholic and other faith leaders challenging recent immigration enforcement surges. Traore had previously received a withholding of removal order in 2011. Her family and advocates have rallied for her release, citing safety concerns regarding her potential deportation.
A senior military leader from Myanmar visited a neighboring Southeast Asian nation for high-level talks. The trip coincides with controversial efforts to repatriate thousands of nationals, including recent returnees. UN agencies and rights groups warn that those sent back face severe persecution, forced conscription, and danger in an active war zone. The host country holds thousands of detainees and hosts hundreds of thousands of refugees, including many from persecuted minorities. Critics argue this policy risks lives and grants international legitimacy to the junta without resolving the ongoing civil conflict. The visiting leader aims to rebuild regional ties following the recent political upheaval.
Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina — Religious leaders from Muslim, Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish communities are urging constitutional changes to replace the post-war Dayton Agreement structure. They argue the current system entrenches ethnic divisions and disenfranchises minorities, including Jews, Roma, and Albanians, who are barred from high office. This push follows recent elections marked by low turnout and nationalist gains. The coalition believes reform is essential for democratic stability and potential EU integration, aiming to shift the nation toward a civic identity rather than one defined by wartime ethnic lines.
Martín Alonso Soto Hernandez, a Peruvian asylum seeker, was released from ICE custody in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on October 6. He had been held at the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility after helping organize a hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall. Soto was reunited with his wife, Gabriela Soto, and their two children. His immigration case remains ongoing, though an assault charge against him was dismissed by his attorney. The Department of Homeland Security denied allegations of mistreatment, while activists described his solitary confinement as retaliation. Faith leaders and immigrant rights groups had protested his detention for months.
Historian Pamela S. Nadell states that antisemitism in the United States has reached unprecedented levels, as detailed in her book and its new afterword. She cites recent violent attacks in Washington, Colorado, and Mississippi, alongside academic boycotts and political rhetoric from figures like Tucker Carlson and Hasan Piker. According to the Anti-Defamation League, this hate has normalized in various sectors. Nadell notes that American Jews now spend over a billion dollars annually on security and alter their behavior to avoid harassment. She warns that the situation is worsening and may require a new chapter in future editions of her work.
The U.S. Supreme Court will review St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, a case challenging Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program nondiscrimination policy. Two Denver Archdiocese parishes argue that denying admission based on sexual orientation or gender identity violates their First Amendment religious liberty rights. This marks the fifth time Colorado has defended LGBTQ protections before the high court in thirty years. Legal experts note a shift in judicial dynamics, as the current conservative majority has previously ruled against the state in similar disputes involving Alliance Defending Freedom. The outcome may further define the balance between religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws in education.
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