Controversial Nativity Scene at Illinois Church

An Illinois church has sparked debate with a nativity scene that shows the baby Jesus with his hands bound in zip ties, flanked by figures in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attire. This display is set up outside Lake Street Church in Evanston.

The depiction includes the baby Jesus wrapped in a thin blanket resembling aluminum foil, which the church notes is inspired by the emergency blankets often found in detention centers.

Among the figures is a centurion, dressed in sunglasses and a green vest marked “ICE.” The Virgin Mary is shown wearing a gas mask, described by the church as a measure for protection against tear gas, while Joseph is also masked.

In a Facebook post, the church explained that this installation draws parallels between the refugee experiences of the Holy Family and the current realities of immigrant detention. They aim to reimagine the Nativity scene as one marked by forced family separation.

“The Holy Family were refugees,” the post asserts. “‘This isn’t a political interpretation. It’s the reality depicted in the stories we’ve told for generations.’ By viewing this familiar narrative through the lens of today’s immigrants, we hope to highlight its radical implications and question what it means to celebrate the birth of a refugee child while alienating those who follow in that child’s footsteps.”

The church, known for its displays advocating for social justice, asserts that the zip ties symbolize the treatment of children during an ICE raid in Chicago earlier this year, where many affected were reportedly U.S. citizens. They stress that “terrorism enforcement does not discriminate based on documentation.”

Interestingly, it seems that Mary’s gas mask has since been removed, and the zip ties have been cut from the baby Jesus.

The display has received mixed reactions from the public. One commenter argued that, historically, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to comply with a census, suggesting that modern immigration practices deserve a different interpretation. Another user expressed strong disapproval, declaring it blasphemous.

On the other hand, some people praised the installation. One commenter described it as “very powerful art,” feeling grateful that it addresses pressing issues in the community.

This isn’t the first time Lake Street Church has engaged with political themes in its Nativity installations. In 2023, they reportedly depicted the baby Jesus amid rubble to honor civilians trapped in Gaza.

The Rev. Michael Wolff, senior pastor at Lake Street Church, was among those arrested during a protest outside an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, on November 14.