Evanston Church's nativity scene depicts baby Jesus zip-tied by ICE

[Qutzupalotl]

Faith leaders and volunteers chose to depict the Holy Family protesting an ICE detention center as this year's Nativity set outside of Lake Street Church in Evanston. Associate Minister Jillian Westerfield said Jesus' birth story is very similar to present day tensions on immigration enforcement in Chicago and around the nation. (Jillian Westerfield)

Mother Mary wearing a respirator mask to protect herself from tear gas. Baby Jesus with zip-tied hands, wrapped in a thin blanket that looks like aluminum foil. Masked centurions with sunglasses and green vests labeled “ICE.”

This is how the Lake Street Church of Evanston chose to assemble its Nativity scene for the Christmas season.
….

Westerfield said the feelings about ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, are not just shared by the church’s leadership, but also its congregation. “This is who we are, and this is what’s important to us. And we would be much more afraid to hold back, because ultimately, we feel like we answer to God, not to anyone else,” Westerfield said.
….
“We don’t speak for all Christians, but we certainly speak for a certain strand of community that’s trying to take that message and say, ‘If Jesus were born in America right now, what would this nativity set look like?'” Woolf said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/evanston-nativity-baby-jesus-zip-tied-ice-agents/

What a protest!

[vapor2]

1. Just can't believe these dark times and keep hoping for karma/accountability for these vile people

[tulipsandroses]

2. Cue the RW outrage. Because this would never happen to republican Jeezus. That other brown guy though?

Yeah, he might have been zip tied. Not the white, blonde hair, blue eyed RW Jeezus.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Those faith leaders and volunteers are brave souls! I applaud their courage and intelligence in this season.

This tableau really brings the reality of what ICE is doing. It's utterly illegal and completely without caring or any sort of empathy. Horrifying as well.

K&R

[PatSeg]

12. This administration

is bringing out the best in a lot of us. I commend those behind this nativity scene.

[Alice Kramden]

4. Brave protest!

Much needed

[popsdenver]

13. They should have guards on scene 24/7

to protect it from being destroyed by MAGAots, ICE, and Border Patrol

[Initech]

5. One day, the psychopaths will be held accountable. One day.

[Qutzupalotl]

6. The space blanket was a nice touch.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. This is where we are at in America. 😢

[librechik]

8. bless this , whoever. n't

[central scrutinizer]

9. Mary, Joseph and Jesus were brown

That’s all the evidence ICE needs

[pattyloutwo]

10. Oh my gosh

People care! 😊 In all of this darkness it’s important to see these acts of confrontation and protest. I feel like we might come out of this 🙏

[GiqueCee]

11. Yeah...

... but not without scars, or serious questions about a system that bends the knee to rich sociopaths instead of taking care of those in need.

WARNING! Do NOT eat the rich. Their malice is contagious.

[AllaN01Bear]

14. wanna really freak the rws out? tell them he wasnt that 6 foot blonde blue eyed bombshel,,

but olive skinned . gets em evry time.

[surrealAmerican]

15. Yet another reason that I love this town

Evanston is a special place.

[ancianita]

16. Evanston is the north suburb bordering on Chicago, and just as badass.

[TheRickles]

17. There was a similar Nativity display in a Boston-area Catholic Church

The manger was empty, and the sign said "ICE was here".

https://www.foxnews.com/us/church-sparks-controversy-empty-nativity-scene-ice-enforcement-message-politicizing-christmas