A Massachusetts pastor has stirred controversy by setting up an anti-ICE Nativity scene at his parish, drawing criticism from the director of ICE and the Boston Archdiocese.

Reverend Stephen Josoma, of Saint Susanna Parish in Dedham, a suburb of Boston, created a unique display by placing a sign reading “ICE WAS HERE” over a manger that notably omits figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, while maintaining the traditional look of a Nativity scene.

Nearby, an additional sign states, “The Holy Family is safe in The Sanctuary of our Church,” and provides contact information for LUCE, an organization focused on tracking immigration enforcement and supporting immigrant communities within Massachusetts.

ICE’s acting Director, Todd Lyons, expressed his disapproval in a statement to the Daily Mail, branding Reverend Josoma’s actions as “absolutely abhorrent” and suggesting they contribute to a harmful narrative that has allegedly led to a staggering increase in assaults on ICE officers by over 1,150 percent.

This figure, indicating a more than 1,000 percent rise in attacks on ICE personnel, has been frequently cited by the Department of Homeland Security and White House representatives, including Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Although there is a lack of public data to confirm the number, there have been more than 250 attacks on ICE officers recorded this year, as well as an increase in stalking, doxxing and death threats.

The Trump administration says anti-ICE rhetoric, such as Josoma’s Nativity scene, contributes to political violence and attacks on immigration enforcement officers. 

Calls to take down the ‘ICE was here’ sign have come from Josoma’s superiors in the Catholic Church as well. 

A pastor recently put up an anti-ICE Nativity scene at his Massachusetts parish, prompting backlash from the Church, the acting director of ICE and some locals

Reverend Stephen Josoma is responsible for putting up the scene. He called it ‘religious art’ that was meant to ‘evoke emotions in people’

The Nativity scene includes a sign that says ‘ICE WAS HERE’ over the empty manger, as well as the phone number to call LUCE, a group that monitors immigration enforcement in Massachusetts

On Friday, the Archdiocese of Boston released a statement that said: ‘The people of God have the right to expect that, when they come to church, they will encounter genuine opportunities for prayer and Catholic worship – not divisive political messaging.’

The statement directly called for the sign to be removed and said the Church prohibits using sacred objects for political messaging. It also said Saint Susanna Parish did not receive permission from the Archdiocese to put up the controversial sign.

Some locals have also taken issue with the scene. Michael Hersey, who lives down the street from the parish, told CBS: ‘I just saw the ICE lit up as I was getting ready to turn and I was like, there is no way.

‘Personally, I just think it is not the right place. I do get it, I mean with everything going on, especially with the holidays. I know everybody has got their mixed feelings on this.’

A Saint Susanna parishioner complained about the scene to the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts. CJ Doyle, the league’s executive director, told WCVB: ‘This is not right, it’s divisive, it’s disrespectful, it takes away from the essential Christmas message.’

Doyle also told Fox News: ‘He’s politicizing Christmas. He’s exploiting the Holy Family. He’s using his position as the pastor of a Catholic parish to promote his left-wing political ideology.’ 

Online, the outrage continued. One person wrote: ‘This is not an appropriate priest. And people wonder why Church pews are empty.’

Another said: ‘A Boston Catholic Church has an empty Nativity with a sign saying ‘ICE WAS HERE’. How can the Archdiocese of Boston allow this? No wonder I’m questioning everything. I don’t even have the leaders of my Faith for comfort.’

Josoma has been erecting political Nativity scenes at his Parish for years, including another scene criticizing Trump’s immigration enforcement during his first term

ICE acting Director Todd Lyons said the scene is ‘absolutely abhorrent’ and that it is the kind of rhetoric that has contributed to an increase in assaults against ICE officers

The Archdiocese of Boston said it did not permit Saint Susanna Parish (pictured) to put up the anti-ICE sign in its Nativity scene, and it called for the sign to be removed

Josoma called the scene ‘religious art’ that was meant to ‘evoke emotions in people.’ He told Fox News that ‘it’s supposed to move people’ and ‘change people.’

‘So, if this evokes a strong reaction, it’s maybe good to take a look at that,’ he said. 

Some of the reactions to the reverend’s anti-ICE sign have been positive. One parishioner told WCVB that she is ‘upset that our church doesn’t stand up for our immigrants in a stronger and more vocal and more active way.’

‘And I’m here to support Father Steve, because he has the courage to do just that,’ she added.

On Facebook, one user wrote: ‘The archdiocese is wrong. This isn’t a political statement it’s a human statement.’

Another said: ‘I think the Pope would approve, he has as much said the same exact message.’

For years, Josoma has been erecting political Nativity scenes at his parish. 

He has previously composed a scene that included mass shooting death tolls, one that was flooded due to climate change, and another scene that commented on immigration enforcement during Trump’s first term by placing baby Jesus in a cage and the Three Wise Men behind a fence.

He explained that the scenes ‘try to see what would it be like if Christ was born into the context of the world today, what would he be facing?’

Lyons said that Josoma ‘has become infamous for using his pulpit to advance his activist agenda,’ and he praised the Archdiocese ‘for taking a stand against such a dangerous and extremist narrative.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to Josoma and the Archdiocese of Boston for comment.