American Catholic Bishops Condemn White House Border Enforcement
Via a uncommon formal message, America's Catholic bishop leadership has issued a firm denunciation of the White House's immigration policies.
Formal Statement Shows Serious Worry
Church leaders voiced being disturbed by risks to the sacred nature of houses of worship and the protected status of hospitals and schools.
We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good.
Climate of Fear
In their message, the bishops portrayed what they termed "a climate of fear around questions of discrimination" and border control measures.
They expressed being disappointed by the current discussion and negative portrayal of migrants, while resisting what they referred to as "the blanket expulsion of people."
Additional Concerns
Church authorities also expressed significant concerns about:
- Situations in migrant detention facilities
- Arbitrary removal of legal status for certain immigrants
- Absence of comprehensive immigration system improvements
Procedural Adjustments
Federal authorities has advanced an stringent border policy since beginning the term, including rescinding policies that limited immigration detentions near sensitive locations such as places of worship, healthcare establishments and learning institutions.
Global Perspective
The statement parallels equivalent concerns made by the Catholic pontiff, who has advocated for "serious consideration about the way migrants are being handled in the US under present leadership."
Broader Implications
This constitutes the first special message of its nature in over a decade, highlighting the seriousness of the church leaders' worries about existing enforcement approaches.
