“Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under.” (Matthew 2:16)
While kidnapping people from U.S. streets (and kidnapping Bible verses to justify the violence), the Department of Homeland Security would also like to police church Nativity scenes. They have the gall to think they should get to decide what’s appropriate or not as a religious display — as if churches need the approval of Herod or Augustus.
A Catholic church in Massachusetts removed the Holy Family from its outdoor Nativity scene and instead placed a sign between the shepherds and Magi declaring, “ICE Was Here.” The sign added that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were safe in the sanctuary.
The acting director of ICE denounced that Nativity scene, telling Fox News it was “absolutely abhorrent.” He also criticized the pastor as an “activist reverend” and suggested the Nativity scene created “a dangerous and extremist narrative” that put ICE agents at risk.
A Baptist church in Illinois also erected a Nativity scene acknowledging the news this Advent. Baby Jesus is zip-tied in the manger with ICE Roman soldiers nearby and Joseph and Mary wearing gas masks. After attacks by vandals, the church didn’t repair the destroyed Joseph or the decapitated and smashed Mary figure but instead put up a new sign declaring Joseph was deported and and Mary “was beaten and dragged away in front of her son” and now is in detention where her family has been unable to contact her.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized this Nativity scene as “offensive to Christians” and denounced it as “demonization of law enforcement.” She added, apparently to Rev. Michael Woolf who leads the church: “Get a grip and seek help.” (Of course, if he needs help, it’s from the state troopers shooting him with a pepper ball or slamming him to the pavement.)
A doll representing the baby Jesus is zip-tied in the Nativity scene outside of Lake Street Church of Evanston, Illinois, on Dec. 10, 2025. (Erin Hooley/Associated Press)
I applaud these two Nativity scenes — and similar ones at a United Methodist church in Texas and a Disciples of Christ church in North Carolina. But regardless of what one thinks of them, we should all be concerned about government officials anointing themselves as the arbiters of what a Nativity scene should look like or not. What’s next? Complaints about a dark-skinned baby Jesus or the presence of wise immigrants who disobeyed the government?
Sadly, rather than going home by another way, too many Christians today willingly side with Herod. As controversy grew about the “Ice Was Here” sign outside a Catholic church in Massachusetts, a spokesperson for the Boston Archdiocese criticized it for “divisive political messaging.” That’s an odd claim since the original Nativity scene with the actual baby Jesus was “divisive political messaging” to Herod. So divisive, in fact, that he responded with insane murderous rage.
So if our depiction of baby Jesus, his family, shepherds, Magi, and others doesn’t upset modern Herods as they rip apart families, send people to be tortured, attack peaceful clergy, and terrorize communities, is it even a Nativity scene?
Brian Kaylor is president & editor-in-chief of Word&Way and author of The Bible According to Christian Nationalists.
NOTE: This is part of our Unsettling Advent devotionals running Nov. 30-Dec. 24. You can subscribe for free and receive them each morning in your inbox.
