Nativity scenes become protest art in a season of deportations

• The provocative Nativity scenes are part of a growing trend of Christian activism on immigration, especially among mainline Protestant churches, Catholic parishes and progressive evangelical groups.

Zoom in: Lake Street Church in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Ill., reimagined its Nativity scene with baby Jesus's hands zip-tied, Mary in a gas mask and figures dressed in tactical vests labeled "ICE." Vandals later destroyed the scene and decapitated the statue of Mary.

• In Charlotte, N.C., Missiongathering Church created a Nativity scene depicting masked immigration agents with bulletproof vests and handcuffs near the Holy Family. A vandal also damaged the scene, which was later restored.
• Urban Village Church in River Forest, Ill., erected a Nativity installation with no Mary, Joseph or baby Jesus, replaced by a sign reading "Due to ICE activity in our community the Holy Family is in hiding."
• St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, Mass., replaced its traditional Nativity figures with a sign reading "ICE was here." Local Catholic archdiocesan leadership called for the sign's removal, saying parishioners "have the right to expect ... genuine opportunities for prayer and Catholic worship — not divisive political messaging."

Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas has erected an outdoor Nativity display inside a cage topped with razor wire, featuring a shopping cart and trash barrels.

• "May this scene call us to make room — in our hearts, in our city, in our policies — for the Christ who comes as an unhoused immigrant child." Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison said in a statement.

Zoom out: The Interfaith Alliance this week launched a $300,000 digital and streaming ad campaign, set to "O Holy Night," that juxtaposed images of ICE agents detaining immigrants against scenes of families gathering together for Christmas.

• Interfaith Alliance president and CEO Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush tells Axios the ad campaign's message is similar to that of the Nativity scenes.
• "We're putting forth a vision of America rooted in what we think are the values of caring for one another, loving one another, protecting our neighbor."
• Raushenbush said the Holy Family was sojourners who lived in a land run by an authoritarian and the Christmas story is supposed to remind us that peace can arise from that crisis.

The other side: "Using a Christmas Nativity display to promote a political message is inappropriate, divisive, disrespectful and arguably sacrilegious," Catholic Action League executive director C. J. Doyle said in a statement.

• In a statement to Axios, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told those who have used Christmas Nativity scenes to protest immigration enforcement to "get a grip and seek help."
• "Not only is this 'nativity' scene offensive to Christians, but it is also depicting something that NEVER happens. ICE does not zip tie infants or children," she said.

Context: In the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph was told through a dream that King Herod was sending soldiers to kill Jesus over fears that the infant is the new King of the Jews. Herod was the ruler of Judea, a semi-autonomous state under the Roman Empire.

• Joseph then gathered Mary and Jesus in the dead of night to flee to Egypt.
• They only returned to Judea after King Herod died.

In the Gospel of Luke, Joseph was forced to take a pregnant Mary to Bethlehem to register for the required Roman Empire census.

• She gave birth to Jesus and placed Him in a manger because "there was no room for them in the inn."