American Roman Catholic Church Leaders Condemn White House Border Enforcement
Via a rare official declaration, America's Catholic bishop leadership has released a sharp criticism of President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
Formal Statement Reveals Deep Concern
The bishops voiced being disturbed by potential violations of the sacred nature of houses of worship and the special nature of medical facilities and educational institutions.
Nations must maintain border control while developing equitable, systematic immigration processes that serve public welfare.
Environment of Apprehension
Through their statement, the church leaders described what they labeled "a climate of fear around questions of discrimination" and border control measures.
They stated being disheartened by the current discussion and negative portrayal of migrants, while resisting what they called "the blanket expulsion of people."
Additional Concerns
Religious leaders also voiced serious worries about:
- Situations in migrant detention facilities
- Arbitrary removal of authorized standing for certain immigrants
- Absence of substantial border policy changes
Policy Changes
The White House has pursued an stringent border policy since beginning the term, including rescinding policies that limited immigration arrests near designated sites such as religious institutions, medical facilities and educational centers.
Worldwide Dimension
The message parallels equivalent concerns made by the Vatican leader, who has called for "serious consideration about the way immigrants are being addressed in the US under the current administration."
Extended Ramifications
This marks the initial formal statement of its nature in more than ten years, emphasizing the significance of the bishops' concerns about existing enforcement approaches.
