Faith Facts

• ICE arrested nearly two dozen criminal illegal immigrants in Minnesota convicted of violent crimes such as murder and rape.
• Many of the individuals apprehended had received final orders of removal years ago but remained in the country committing serious offenses.
• ICE leadership emphasized the duty to protect communities from dangerous individuals, despite opposition from local politicians and unrest.

Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have recently taken significant action in Minnesota, detaining almost two dozen illegal immigrants previously convicted of egregious crimes, including murder and rape.

This comes during a time of heightened tension in the state following a shooting involving an ICE agent and a protester in Minneapolis.

“Regardless of staged political theatrics, ICE is going to continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota and elsewhere,” stated ICE Director Todd Lyons.

Among those apprehended are individuals with long histories of serious criminal offenses, reinforcing the ongoing need for vigilant law enforcement to ensure the public’s safety and uphold the rule of law.

As Christians, we affirm the God-given role of government to restrain evil and protect the innocent, praying that justice, order, and mercy be preserved in our communities.

For more details, please see the original report:

Full article at The Christian Post

Faith Facts

• Close to 2,000 Christians have been killed globally in faith-based attacks since late 2023.
• There have been nearly 3,000 verified abductions or assaults against believers during this same period.
• Nigeria remains the deadliest nation for Christians, with 590 recorded killings in two years.

Christian communities around the world face alarming levels of violence and persecution, according to new findings from the 2026 Global Christian Relief Red List.

These sobering statistics show that faith is often met with hostility, especially in countries where spiritual freedom is under threat and the protection of believers is weak.

African nations dominate the list of the most dangerous places for Christians, with the presence of jihadist groups, ineffective state oversight, and little accountability fueling these attacks.

The report emphasizes that violence in Nigeria extends beyond mere criminality, reflecting a sustained campaign targeting the faithful.

“The cumulative impact on Christian communities — through targeted attacks on leaders, places of worship and homes — reflects sustained persecution rather than isolated criminal activity.”

Investigators found coordinated attacks aimed at pastors and churches in Nigeria, where believers often cannot freely live out their faith.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia also report hundreds of murdered Christians, while Mozambique records high numbers of both killings and displacements due to insurgent violence.

Rwanda saw the most cases of church closures and intimidation, placing even greater pressure on the faithful who seek to worship together, often under new government mandates.

China stands out for arresting the most Christians, enforcing control over religious practice through harsh surveillance and legal restrictions.

Mexico leads in abductions and assaults against Christians, where criminal gangs view faith-driven community organizers as threats to their power.

The report also notes a stronger advocacy for religious liberty in recent years, highlighting a crucial speech by Vice President JD Vance, who called on Western leaders to uphold freedom of faith and condemned discrimination against Christians.

“Persecution today does not always arrive in obvious or dramatic ways. Often it unfolds quietly, through pressure that restricts worship, through laws that narrow religious space, or through systems that steadily erode the ability of Christians to live openly as followers of Jesus.”

As believers, we are called to pray for and support those suffering for their faith, shining the light of Christ in a world that too often resists it. Stand firm in faith, trusting God to sustain and vindicate His people.

Read the full report here

Faith Facts

• Christian group CARE and Church of England leaders praise efforts to combat deepfake pornography.
• The UK government plans to strengthen laws addressing AI-generated sexual images, extending protections beyond minors.
• Faith leaders emphasize protecting human dignity and taking firm action against technology that harms others.

The government’s commitment to address deepfake pornography has been met with approval from Christian advocates and church leaders. This move promises stronger protection for vulnerable individuals and upholds the moral standards foundational to a faithful society.

Regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation into X after reports of its Grok AI tool creating sexualized images, including those targeting children.

Supporting these efforts, policymakers highlight the urgent need to prevent the exploitation and degradation of individuals through advanced technology.

CARE’s Tim Cairns affirmed the need for explicit laws targeting AI tools that enable sexual deepfakes. He stressed the importance of legislative action, urging support for the proposed ban by Baroness Owen, and highlighted the particular dangers posed to women and girls.

“Sexual deepfakes pose a particular danger to women and girls. They fuel a culture that sees women and girls dehumanised and treated as mere sex objects.”

“The creation and sharing of deepfake images cause serious mental and physical distress to victims. Swift action to ban these apps would make a difference, and there can be no reasonable argument against banning them.”

“No cogent argument can be put in favour of technology that creates sexualised images without a person’s consent.”

The Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, called for unity among faith communities and civil society in condemning such technology.

He underscored the lasting harm to individual dignity and the moral fabric of society, commending continued government intervention.

“From a perspective of Christian faith, all the major world faiths, and civil society, the unleashing of this capacity in Grok by X is truly appalling.”

“The sexualised deepfakes of real individuals used without their consent is immensely damaging to the individuals’ dignity and the dignity of our society.”

“The damage is long lasting because the images are almost impossible to take down. I completely support the calls to X to withdraw the service and to Ofcom to investigate and to enforce the law.”

“I support the Government’s drive to ban nudification apps through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill.”

As Christians, we are called to defend human dignity and advocate for laws that honor God’s image in every person.

Let us pray for wisdom for our leaders as they act to protect families and vulnerable individuals from the abuse of new technologies.

Read the full report at Christian Today