American Roman Catholic Bishops Condemn Trump Administration Immigration Policies
In a rare public statement, the national Catholic bishops organization has released a sharp criticism of the White House's border enforcement measures.
Special Message Shows Serious Worry
Religious authorities voiced being troubled by threats against the sanctity of religious sites and the special nature of hospitals and schools.
Countries bear the duty to manage their boundaries and create fair, organized immigration frameworks for the benefit of all.
Environment of Apprehension
Through their statement, the church leaders described what they termed "a environment of apprehension around questions of profiling" and immigration policies.
They stated being saddened by the ongoing debate and demonization of immigrants, while opposing what they called "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
Other Worries
The bishops also raised serious worries about:
- Conditions in border holding facilities
- Unjustified cancellation of official documentation for some migrants
- Lack of comprehensive immigration system improvements
Administrative Shifts
The Trump administration has pursued an tough immigration approach since beginning the term, including eliminating policies that limited immigration arrests near protected areas such as places of worship, healthcare establishments and learning institutions.
Worldwide Dimension
The declaration mirrors similar critiques made by the Catholic pontiff, who has urged "serious consideration about the way immigrants are being handled in the US under present leadership."
Wider Consequences
This constitutes the premier formal statement of its type in over a decade, emphasizing the significance of the religious authorities' apprehensions about present border measures.
