Catholic Bishops Critique Trump’s Immigration Policies
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has made a notable move by issuing a statement that criticizes President Donald Trump’s immigration strategies.
During their fall plenary session in Baltimore, Maryland, the council almost unanimously approved this statement on Wednesday, recording 216 votes in favor. Notably, only five were against it, while three abstained.
In their statement, the bishops addressed the responsibility of states to manage their borders and to create just and orderly immigration processes that benefit the common good. They shared a concern for the atmosphere of fear and anxiety impacting their communities due to profiling and immigration enforcement.
“We are saddened by the current state of debate and vilification of immigrants,” the bishops declared. They also voiced worries about conditions in detention centers and the inadequate access to pastoral care, lamenting the arbitrary loss of legal status for some immigrants residing in the U.S.
Furthermore, the bishops called for reforms to immigration policies, urging measures that ensure national security while also respecting the dignity of migrants. They expressed their distress over threats facing places of worship, hospitals, and schools, emphasizing the sadness they feel when meeting parents who fear being detained while dropping their children at school.
The statement explicitly opposed “indiscriminate mass deportations” and denounced the inhumane rhetoric and violence directed at immigrants and law enforcement alike.
“We recognize that states have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish fair and orderly immigration systems for the common good,” the bishops reiterated. They pointed out that without proper processes, migrants are at risk of human trafficking and exploitation, emphasizing the importance of safe and legal pathways for migration.
This is, interestingly, the first such statement from the USCCB since 2013, which related to political policies surrounding contraceptives.
