American Roman Catholic Bishops Criticize White House Border Enforcement
In a rare formal message, the national Catholic bishops organization has released a firm denunciation of the White House's immigration crackdown.
Special Message Expresses Deep Concern
Church leaders expressed being disturbed by threats against the special status of houses of worship and the special nature of healthcare centers and learning establishments.
Countries bear the duty to manage their boundaries and create fair, organized immigration frameworks for the benefit of all.
Environment of Apprehension
In their message, the bishops described what they labeled "a climate of fear around questions of profiling" and immigration enforcement.
They revealed being saddened by the current discussion and negative portrayal of migrants, while opposing what they referred to as "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
Additional Concerns
The bishops also expressed major apprehensions about:
- Circumstances in border holding facilities
- Arbitrary removal of official documentation for certain immigrants
- Lack of substantial border policy changes
Procedural Adjustments
The White House has advanced an aggressive immigration agenda since assuming power, including rescinding policies that restricted immigration apprehensions near sensitive locations such as religious institutions, medical facilities and educational centers.
International Context
The message mirrors equivalent concerns made by the Catholic pontiff, who has called for "serious consideration about the way immigrants are being handled in the US under Trump."
Wider Consequences
This marks the premier special message of its nature in 12 years, underscoring the gravity of the church leaders' worries about present border measures.
