US Catholic Bishops Criticize Trump Administration Border Enforcement
Via a rare formal message, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has delivered a strong condemnation of President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
Formal Statement Shows Significant Apprehension
Church leaders stated being disturbed by threats against the special status 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
In their message, the religious figures described what they called "a atmosphere of anxiety around questions of profiling" and border control measures.
They expressed being saddened by the current discussion and demonization of foreign nationals, while resisting what they called "the blanket expulsion of people."
Additional Concerns
The bishops also expressed major apprehensions about:
- Conditions in border holding facilities
- Random revocation of official documentation for various foreign nationals
- Absence of substantial border policy changes
Policy Changes
The Trump administration has advanced an tough immigration approach since taking office, including eliminating policies that curtailed immigration detentions near designated sites such as religious institutions, medical facilities and educational centers.
Global Perspective
The message echoes equivalent concerns made by the Vatican leader, who has urged "thorough contemplation about the way migrants are being handled in the US under present leadership."
Broader Implications
This represents the first special message of its nature in more than ten years, underscoring the significance of the church leaders' worries about current immigration policies.