American Roman Catholic Church Leaders Condemn White House Border Enforcement
Through a rare official declaration, the national Catholic bishops organization has released a sharp criticism of the White House's immigration policies.
Official Declaration Shows Deep Concern
Religious authorities expressed being troubled by potential violations of the sacred nature of churches and the protected status of hospitals and schools.
Nations must maintain border control while developing equitable, systematic immigration processes that serve public welfare.
Atmosphere of Anxiety
Within their declaration, the religious figures described what they termed "a climate of fear around questions of targeting" and immigration enforcement.
They stated being saddened by the ongoing debate and demonization of immigrants, while rejecting what they called "the blanket expulsion of people."
Other Worries
Religious leaders also expressed serious worries about:
- Conditions in border holding facilities
- Arbitrary removal of legal status for various foreign nationals
- Insufficiency in meaningful immigration reform
Procedural Adjustments
The White House has advanced an tough immigration approach since assuming power, including eliminating policies that restricted immigration detentions near protected areas such as places of worship, healthcare establishments and learning institutions.
Global Perspective
The message mirrors comparable criticisms made by the Vatican leader, who has urged "deep reflection about the way immigrants are being handled in the US under Trump."
Broader Implications
This constitutes the first official declaration of its kind in 12 years, highlighting the gravity of the church leaders' worries about present border measures.
