American Roman Catholic Church Leaders Condemn White House Border Enforcement
Via a rare public statement, America's Catholic bishop leadership has delivered a firm denunciation of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Special Message Shows Significant Apprehension
Church leaders expressed being concerned by potential violations of the sanctity of houses of worship and the protected status of medical facilities and educational institutions.
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 called "a climate of fear around questions of discrimination" and immigration enforcement.
They stated being disheartened by the present discourse and negative portrayal of migrants, while rejecting what they called "the blanket expulsion of people."
Other Worries
The bishops also voiced major apprehensions about:
- Circumstances in immigration detention centers
- Random revocation of legal status for various foreign nationals
- Absence of meaningful immigration reform
Procedural Adjustments
Federal authorities has pursued an tough immigration approach since beginning the term, including revoking policies that restricted immigration arrests near designated sites such as places of worship, healthcare establishments and learning institutions.
International Context
The statement mirrors equivalent concerns made by the Catholic pontiff, who has urged "thorough contemplation about the way migrants are being handled in the US under present leadership."
Wider Consequences
This constitutes the first official declaration of its type in more than ten years, emphasizing the seriousness of the church leaders' worries about existing enforcement approaches.
