Overview
- The Lake Street Baptist display shows the baby Jesus bound and wrapped in foil, Mary and Joseph in gas masks, and figures labeled ICE near the manger.
- Associate minister Jillian Westerfield says the scene is a nonpartisan call to conscience that connects biblical refugee imagery to current treatment of migrants.
- Church officials report an act of vandalism in which Mary’s mask and the baby’s restraints were removed, prompting them to replace the items.
- Westerfield says the bindings echo images from the Midwest Blitz operation, and the masks reference alleged use of chemical agents in Chicago and Evanston.
- Coverage situates the installation within tougher immigration enforcement under President Trump, including more detentions and deportations, expanded ICE authority, and National Guard deployments; the church previously staged a Gaza-themed nativity in 2023.