American Roman Catholic Church Leaders Denounce White House Border Enforcement
Via a rare official declaration, America's Catholic bishop leadership has delivered a strong condemnation of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Official Declaration Shows Serious Worry
The bishops voiced being disturbed by risks to the special status of churches and the protected status of hospitals and schools.
Countries bear the duty to manage their boundaries and create fair, organized immigration frameworks for the benefit of all.
Climate of Fear
In their message, the bishops described what they called "a climate of fear around questions of profiling" and immigration enforcement.
They revealed being disappointed by the ongoing debate and demonization of immigrants, while opposing what they called "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
Further Issues
Religious leaders also raised serious worries about:
- Circumstances in immigration detention centers
- Random revocation of legal status for some migrants
- Absence of substantial border policy changes
Administrative Shifts
The White House has implemented an stringent border policy since assuming power, including eliminating policies that restricted immigration apprehensions near designated sites such as places of worship, healthcare establishments and learning institutions.
Global Perspective
The declaration echoes equivalent concerns made by the Catholic pontiff, who has called for "serious consideration about the way migrants are being addressed in the US under the current administration."
Extended Ramifications
This marks the first special message of its kind in more than ten years, emphasizing the gravity of the church leaders' worries about current immigration policies.
