American Catholic Church Leaders Denounce Trump Administration Border Enforcement
Via a rare public statement, the national Catholic bishops organization has delivered a sharp criticism of the White House's immigration crackdown.
Official Declaration Expresses Serious Worry
Religious authorities voiced being disturbed by risks to the special status of churches 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.
Environment of Apprehension
Within their declaration, the church leaders characterized what they termed "a environment of apprehension around questions of discrimination" and border control measures.
They stated being disappointed by the present discourse and vilification of immigrants, while resisting what they described as "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
Additional Concerns
The bishops also raised major apprehensions about:
- Situations in migrant detention facilities
- Random revocation of official documentation for some migrants
- Absence of meaningful immigration reform
Administrative Shifts
The Trump administration has pursued an stringent border policy since beginning the term, including revoking policies that curtailed immigration detentions near protected areas such as places of worship, healthcare establishments and learning institutions.
Global Perspective
The statement parallels equivalent concerns made by the Vatican leader, who has called for "deep reflection about the way foreign nationals are being handled in the US under Trump."
Wider Consequences
This constitutes the first special message of its type in more than ten years, highlighting the seriousness of the bishops' concerns about present border measures.
