The Archdiocese of St. Louis has taken legal action against Ste. Genevieve County officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arguing that restrictive visitation policies at a local jail violate the religious freedom of immigrant detainees.
The federal lawsuit, filed Monday, contends that the Ste. Genevieve County Jail's no-contact visitation system makes it impossible for Catholic priests to administer sacraments such as communion, confession, and Mass. According to the complaint, these rites require private, face-to-face interaction between a priest and a detainee—a condition the jail's current setup does not allow, as visits are conducted through glass barriers with phone communication.
Jail policies limit visits to a single four-hour window on Sundays, with 30-minute slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. The lawsuit notes that attorneys and consular officials are granted exceptions to both the no-contact rule and the time restrictions, arguing that this differential treatment is unjustified because similar accommodations could be made for religious practices.
The Archdiocese says it has repeatedly asked for face-to-face visits to administer Catholic sacraments, but those requests have been denied. The lawsuit quotes jail administrator Lt. Andrew Johnson as saying the no-contact policy was implemented by ICE and that he lacked authority to change it.
Ste. Genevieve County Jail holds immigrant detainees under agreements with ICE and receives federal funding for that purpose, the lawsuit alleges. As a result, it argues, ICE officials have the authority to ensure religious accommodations are provided.
The lawsuit asks a federal court to declare the jail's visitation policies unconstitutional and to block county officials from enforcing them. It also seeks an order preventing ICE from sending federal funds or additional detainees to the facility until Catholic religious services are permitted.
This case adds to ongoing debates over religious liberty in detention settings. Similar disputes have arisen in other jurisdictions, and courts have sometimes weighed security concerns against inmates' rights to practice their faith. The outcome here could set a precedent for how immigration detention facilities handle religious access.
Reached for comment, a Ste. Genevieve County Jail spokesperson said the facility has not yet received the lawsuit paperwork but will forward it to legal counsel once it arrives. ICE has not responded to requests for comment.
The defendants named in the suit include Sheriff Gary Stolzer, Chief Deputy Jason Schott, Lt. Andrew Johnson, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Director Markwayne Mullin, and acting ICE Director David J. Venturella.
