Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 4 April 2025

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.    

Religious leaders protest ICE policies in Center City Philadelphia 

On April 3, 2025, religious leaders from various faiths gathered in Center City Philadelphia to protest against ICE policies, particularly targeting immigrant sanctuaries. The rally took place outside the ICE office in Chinatown, with attendees expressing concerns over the fear caused by recent policy changes. In January, the Trump administration revoked a directive that protected sensitive spaces like churches and schools from immigration raids. Leaders called for these places to be off-limits to ICE. The demonstration included symbolic actions like building an altar to emphasize the sanctity of worship spaces. Religious leaders are advocating for lawmakers to restore protections for these locations. 

Analyst comments: The protest in Philadelphia, involving religious leaders rallying against ICE policies, deeply intersects with the principles of faith and justice. This protest’s demands to shield sensitive spaces like churches, schools, and community centers from immigration enforcement reflecting a broader faith-based commitment. Despite a judge’s ruling last month for ICE not to conduct immigration enforcement actions “in or near any place of worship” associated with the case brought by Quakers, Baptists and Sikhs, many faith-based leaders remain concerned about ICE actions. Several organizations, such as World Relief have published best practices for responding if ICE shows up at your house of worship. While these resources can provide general guidance, they should not be considered legal advice, and faith-based leaders are encouraged to consult with specialized legal counsel if they have specific concerns for their congregation.  

Nevada man accused of threatening to kill Jewish people 

A man from Henderson, Nevada, is facing federal charges after allegedly leaving threatening voicemails targeting Jewish individuals. Between October 11 and October 19, 2023, 43-year-old John Anthony Miller purportedly sent multiple messages to the office of U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada. The voicemails contained explicit threats to assault, kidnap, or murder Senator Rosen, who is Jewish. In one message, Miller used profane language to express his intentions. Additionally, on October 19, he left further voicemails questioning the senator’s family ties to Israeli settlers and making additional threats. Miller was arrested on October 26 and is charged with threatening a federal official. He is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah on November 13, 2023. 

Related articles: Nevada man federally charged after allegedly threatening to kidnap, assault or murder Jewish US senator 

Analyst comments: This incident underscores a troubling intersection of hate speech, religious intolerance, and public safety. For faith-based organizations, this case highlights the ongoing need for vigilance, unity, and advocacy in combating religious hatred and promoting understanding. Individuals who are targeted with potential hate crimes are encouraged to report the incidents to their local police department, as well as submitting a report to the FBI. 

Threat actors leverage tax season to deploy tax-themed phishing campaigns 

As Tax Day approaches, Microsoft has detected phishing campaigns targeting individuals with tax-themed social engineering tactics. These campaigns typically involve malicious attachments or links, such as URL shorteners and QR codes, which lead victims to fake tax-related websites designed to steal sensitive credentials or deploy malware. The attackers exploit the busy tax season, hoping that people will be less cautious when dealing with seemingly legitimate communications. These tactics highlight the importance of vigilance during tax season to avoid falling victim to phishing scams. 

Analyst comments: The rise in tax-themed phishing campaigns presents a significant concern, especially as the tax season typically involves a surge in online transactions and interactions with financial institutions. Tax season is a peak period for sensitive financial activities, with many individuals filing returns and interacting with tax-related entities. Attackers leverage this by timing their phishing campaigns to coincide with heightened user activity, making their attempts more likely to succeed. This manipulation of the calendar underscores the importance of cybersecurity awareness during periods of high public engagement with financial matters. 

The use of QR codes and URL shorteners in these phishing campaigns indicates an evolving sophistication in attack strategies. These methods can bypass traditional security checks and make it harder for users to discern malicious content. The fact that attackers are refining their approaches means that cybersecurity professionals must continually update their methods for identifying and blocking these threats, and users must stay informed about emerging tactics. It calls for a dual approach: strengthening technical defenses while also educating users to be more aware and cautious, particularly during vulnerable periods like tax season.