American Catholic Bishops Denounce White House Border Policies
Via a rare formal message, the national Catholic bishops organization has issued a firm denunciation of the Trump administration's immigration policies.
Official Declaration Shows Deep Concern
Church leaders stated being disturbed by risks to the special status of religious sites and the special nature of medical facilities and educational institutions.
Countries bear the duty to manage their boundaries and create fair, organized immigration frameworks for the benefit of all.
Atmosphere of Anxiety
In their message, the religious figures described what they called "a climate of fear around questions of profiling" and immigration policies.
They stated being disappointed by the current discussion and vilification of immigrants, while rejecting what they called "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
Further Issues
Church authorities also raised serious worries about:
- Situations in border holding facilities
- Arbitrary removal of authorized standing for some migrants
- Lack of meaningful immigration reform
Administrative Shifts
Federal authorities has pursued an tough immigration approach since beginning the term, including rescinding policies that limited immigration detentions near protected areas such as places of worship, healthcare establishments and learning institutions.
International Context
The statement parallels similar critiques made by Pope Leo, who has called for "deep reflection about the way foreign nationals are being treated in the US under the current administration."
Wider Consequences
This marks the premier formal statement of its kind in 12 years, highlighting the gravity of the church leaders' worries about existing enforcement approaches.
