American Roman Catholic Bishops Criticize White House Border Enforcement
Via a rare official declaration, America's Catholic bishop leadership has issued a strong condemnation of President Donald Trump's border enforcement measures.
Formal Statement Expresses Deep Concern
Church leaders expressed being troubled by threats against the sanctity of churches and the protected status of hospitals and schools.
Nations must maintain border control while developing equitable, systematic immigration processes that serve public welfare.
Climate of Fear
Through their statement, the church leaders described what they called "a atmosphere of anxiety around questions of profiling" and border control measures.
They expressed being disheartened by the ongoing debate and demonization of foreign nationals, while resisting what they called "the widespread removal of people."
Further Issues
The bishops also voiced significant concerns about:
- Situations in immigration detention centers
- Unjustified cancellation of authorized standing for certain immigrants
- Absence of substantial border policy changes
Administrative Shifts
The White House has pursued an tough immigration approach since assuming power, including eliminating policies that curtailed immigration arrests near protected areas such as churches, hospitals and schools.
International Context
The message parallels similar critiques made by the Catholic pontiff, who has urged "serious consideration about the way migrants are being handled in the US under Trump."
Extended Ramifications
This marks the premier formal statement of its nature in more than ten years, emphasizing the significance of the church leaders' worries about present border measures.
