# U.S. religious liberty legal developments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-religious-liberty-legal-developments > Updated: 2026-08-28T17:15:00.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. Legal challenges regarding religious protections in the United States have centered on immigration enforcement and federal funding. The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an injunction preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting enforcement actions at or near houses of worship. This 2-1 ruling maintained a previous decision finding that a 2025 administration policy rescinding protections for sensitive locations likely violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. While the Department of Homeland Security argued that enforcement should not be restricted when targeting dangerous individuals, the court noted that the threat of raids can create a “chilling effect” that burdens religious exercise. In a related development, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an opinion stating that federal rules prohibiting faith-based groups from using funds for worship, instruction, or proselytization are “presumptively unconstitutional” under the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-28: U.S. legal developments bolster religious liberty protections The DOJ issued an opinion stating that restricting federal funds for religious purposes violates the First Amendment, while a federal appeals court limited ICE raids at houses of worship to protect religious自由. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-legal-developments-bolster-religious-liberty-protections ### 2026-08-18: 4th Circuit Court upholds block on ICE enforcement at churches A federal appeals court upheld an injunction blocking ICE from conducting immigration enforcement at or near houses of worship, citing potential violations of religious freedom. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/4th-circuit-court-upholds-block-on-ice-enforcement-at-churches --- Cite as: U.S. religious liberty legal developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-religious-liberty-legal-developments