Some 27 religious groups in the United States are challenging Donald Trump’s decision to rescind a government rule banning immigration raids on houses of worship, hospitals, schools and other sensitive locations.

The groups, which include the Episcopal Church and Presbyterian Church (USA) say the plans violate constitutional rights and they’ve filed a lawsuit with the US District Court in Washington.

In a statement to Religion News Service, an Episcopal Church spokesperson said: “We joined the suit because Episcopal congregations across the United States have already seen decreased attendance at worship services and social service ministries due to fears of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement ) actions. In some places, even congregants with documented legal status are choosing to stay home for fear they may be mistakenly arrested based on their appearance.”

Bishop W. Darin Moore of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church said :

“Unannounced raids into our sanctuaries and other church spaces presents very real danger to both our members and our communities, most of whom are black and brown people.”

Rt Rev Sean Rowe, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, said: “By joining this lawsuit, we are seeking the ability to gather to fully practice our faith and follow Jesus’ command to love our neighbours as ourselves.”

Faith groups say the new Trump legislation has already resulted in at least one immigration arrest, outside a church in Atlanta, Georgia. They say it has also harmed religious programmes, infringing on their First Amendment right to freely assemble.

The new lawsuit comes less than 24 hours after three religious groups that work with the federal government to resettle refugees in the US joined individual plaintiffs in suing the administration over Trump’s executive order that all but halted the US Refugee Admission Programme.