A Roman Catholic priest in Dedham, Massachusetts, has taken a stand against the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda by replacing Jesus, Mary, and Joseph with a sign that reads "I.C.E. was here" in the church's Nativity scene. An additional sign states, "The Holy Family is safe in The Sanctuary of our Church…If You see I.C.E. Please Call LUCE At 617-370-5023." The priest has defied calls from both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Archdiocese of Boston to remove the signs.
Rev. Stephen Josoma of St. Susanna Parish told WBUR that the scene is meant to focus the Christmas story on the plight of immigrants, citing conversations with refugee families living in fear of deportation after coming to the U.S. from countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, and Afghanistan. "These are folks who carry a lot of scars with them. Some of them are physical scars, but most are emotional," he told WBUR. "They've seen their folks killed in front of them."
