American Catholic Bishops Denounce White House Border Enforcement
Through a rare public statement, America's Catholic bishop leadership has issued a strong condemnation of President Donald Trump's border enforcement measures.
Formal Statement Expresses Deep Concern
Religious authorities stated being disturbed by risks to the sacred nature of houses of worship 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
Through their statement, the religious figures characterized what they called "a environment of apprehension around questions of targeting" and border control measures.
They expressed being saddened by the present discourse and vilification of immigrants, while resisting what they described as "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
Further Issues
The bishops also raised serious worries about:
- Conditions in immigration detention centers
- Unjustified cancellation of authorized standing for some migrants
- Insufficiency in comprehensive immigration system improvements
Policy Changes
The Trump administration has pursued an aggressive immigration agenda since taking office, including rescinding policies that limited immigration arrests near sensitive locations such as religious institutions, medical facilities and educational centers.
Global Perspective
The message echoes equivalent concerns made by the Vatican leader, who has called for "thorough contemplation about the way immigrants are being addressed in the US under the current administration."
Broader Implications
This represents the premier official declaration of its nature in 12 years, emphasizing the seriousness of the church leaders' worries about present border measures.
