“ICE Was Here” Nativity at St. Susanna in Dedham Sparks Rebuke from ICE Acting Director and Archdiocese
Lede: A Dedham parish installed a Nativity that replaces the Holy Family with a sign reading ICE WAS HERE, prompting public rebukes from ICE’s Boston director Todd Lyons and an Archdiocese statement calling the display inappropriate.
- Sign in the manger: St. Susanna placed a large sign reading “ICE WAS HERE” and a second sign linking to LUCE resources.
- Official rebukes: ICE Boston director Todd Lyons and the Archdiocese of Boston publicly criticized the display and the Archdiocese directed removal.
- Parish intent: Pastor Rev. Stephen Josoma framed the installation as a moral witness to migrants’ hardships and a call for compassion.
- Historical pattern: St. Susanna has previously used Nativity displays for social and political commentary.
What the Dedham Nativity shows
The outdoor installation at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham omits the figures of Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus. In the empty manger sits a large sign: “ICE WAS HERE”. Beneath it is a second sign stating that the “Holy Family is safe in the sanctuary of our Church” and providing a phone number routed to LUCE, a Massachusetts immigrant‑led coalition that monitors immigration enforcement (see Getty Images photo; reporting by CBS Boston and Patch).
Pastor and parish history
Rev. Stephen (Steven) Josoma, pastor at St. Susanna, said the display aims to connect the Christmas story to modern migration issues and to “bring out the best of people at Christmas” by drawing attention to those in need. St. Susanna has a record of politically themed Nativity scenes — including past displays highlighting mass‑shooting sites and family separations at the U.S.–Mexico border — that frame church art as social commentary (Patch; CBS Boston).
ICE response and Archdiocese rebuke
Todd Lyons, director of ICE’s Boston field office, publicly criticized the installation, arguing the display can contribute to a “dangerous narrative” about immigration enforcement and may stoke fear among immigrant communities, potentially misrepresenting ICE’s work (CBS Boston; local coverage).
“The display risks unfairly vilifying agents and may distort public understanding of immigration enforcement,” ICE officials said in local reports summarizing Lyons’ comments.
The Archdiocese of Boston issued a written statement calling the display “inappropriate,” saying sacred images should not serve divisive political messaging and directing the parish to remove and restore the manger to its proper purpose (CBS Boston).
Local reaction and Catholic groups
Online responses on St. Susanna’s Facebook page were reported as “overwhelmingly positive,” with parishioners and visitors expressing support for the message (Patch). Some local residents said they understood the intention but questioned whether a Nativity is the right forum (CBS Boston).
Not all reactions were sympathetic. C.J. Doyle of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts called Fr. Josoma a “dissident priest” and described the display as a “crackpot political stunt,” arguing the Nativity should preserve the religious meaning of Christmas (Patch; Newsmax).
LUCE and the activism behind the message
The second sign includes a phone number routed to LUCE (La Unidad de las Comunidades en Lucha), an immigrant‑led coalition that monitors enforcement and helps communities organize. By listing a practical contact, the display functions both as symbolic protest and as a community resource for reporting ICE presence or seeking support (Patch).
Visual record and media coverage
Photographs and TV segments have documented the scene. A Getty Images photo taken Dec. 3 shows the “ICE WAS HERE” sign in the manger (Getty Images photo). Local TV carried interviews with residents and parish leaders; a broadcast clip is available online (Television clip).
Context, implications and practical applications
Context: St. Susanna’s history of provocative Nativity displays explains why this year’s scene drew swift attention and pushback (CBS Boston; Patch).
Economic: Immediate economic effects are local and limited; controversies can nonetheless influence donations and attendance at particular parishes and affect fundraising strategies for advocacy or watchdog groups.
Political & social: The incident contributes to wider debates about migration, the role of religious institutions in politics, and trust within immigrant communities. Law‑enforcement pushback may heighten anxiety among migrants and those who assist them.
Cultural & practical: Using a Nativity as protest challenges norms about sacred imagery. The inclusion of LUCE’s contact number shows how symbolic witness can be combined with direct community action — a model other faith groups or NGOs might adopt in political crises.
Sources and further reading
- CBS Boston coverage (includes Archdiocese statement and reporting)
- Patch (Dedham local reporting)
- Getty Images photo of the scene
- Newsmax coverage (conservative perspective)
- Television clip showing the display and interviews
Reporting note: This story draws on local news reporting, archived photographs and written statements from the Archdiocese of Boston and ICE as reported in regional outlets. Fr. Josoma and St. Susanna Parish have discussed the display publicly; the Archdiocese’s position was released in a written statement to the press (CBS Boston).
