American Catholic Bishops Criticize White House Border Enforcement
Through a rare public statement, the national Catholic bishops organization has released a strong condemnation of the White House's immigration crackdown.
Official Declaration Expresses Significant Apprehension
The bishops voiced being troubled by threats against the special status of religious sites and the protected status of hospitals and schools.
Nations must maintain border control while developing equitable, systematic immigration processes that serve public welfare.
Climate of Fear
Within their declaration, the church leaders described what they labeled "a climate of fear around questions of profiling" and border control measures.
They revealed being disappointed by the current discussion and vilification of foreign nationals, while resisting what they called "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
Additional Concerns
Church authorities also voiced significant concerns about:
- Situations in border holding facilities
- Arbitrary removal of legal status for some migrants
- Lack of meaningful immigration reform
Policy Changes
The White House has advanced an tough immigration approach since beginning the term, including eliminating policies that curtailed immigration detentions near protected areas such as religious institutions, medical facilities and educational centers.
Worldwide Dimension
The statement echoes comparable criticisms made by the Vatican leader, who has advocated for "serious consideration about the way immigrants are being handled in the US under the current administration."
Wider Consequences
This marks the premier special message of its nature in over a decade, emphasizing the gravity of the religious authorities' apprehensions about current immigration policies.
