In a rare condemnation, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops said it was “disturbed” by US President Donald Trump’s threats against an immigration crackdown. They also pushed for “meaningful immigration reform.”
In a special message, the first of its kind in 12 years, the bishops said: “We are concerned about threats against the sanctity of churches and the special nature of hospitals and schools.”
The report echoes similar criticism from Pope Leo, who called for “deep reflection” on how migrants are treated in the US under Trump.
What did the bishops say?
In their message, the bishops expressed concern about what they described as a “climate of fear and anxiety around issues of profiling” and immigration enforcement.
They said they were saddened by the discussion and vilification of migrants and opposed the “indiscriminate mass deportation of people”.
The bishops also raised concerns about conditions in detention centers and what they called the arbitrary removal of legal status from some migrants.
“We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and to create a fair and orderly immigration system for the common good,” the bishops said.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration efforts, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Trump’s immigration policy
Donald Trump’s administration has advanced an aggressive immigration agenda since taking office earlier this year.
Trump has rescinded a policy that limited immigration arrests near sensitive locations, including churches, hospitals and schools, and has deployed federal agents across the United States to step up such arrests.
He previously advocated sending the military and immigration agents to Democratic cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and even the nation’s capital, arguing that unprecedented operations were needed to fight crime and carry out his mass deportation agenda.
