US Roman Catholic Bishops Criticize White House Border Policies
In a rare official declaration, America's Catholic bishop leadership has released a strong condemnation of the White House's immigration policies.
Official Declaration Expresses Serious Worry
Church leaders expressed being troubled by potential violations of the sacred nature of churches and the protected status of medical facilities and educational institutions.
Nations must maintain border control while developing equitable, systematic immigration processes that serve public welfare.
Environment of Apprehension
Within their declaration, the bishops characterized what they labeled "a environment of apprehension around questions of profiling" and immigration enforcement.
They expressed being disheartened by the current discussion and vilification of immigrants, while rejecting what they referred to as "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."
Further Issues
Church authorities also voiced significant concerns about:
- Circumstances in border holding facilities
- Unjustified cancellation of legal status for some migrants
- Absence of substantial border policy changes
Administrative Shifts
The Trump administration has advanced an stringent border policy since taking office, including eliminating policies that restricted immigration apprehensions near designated sites such as churches, hospitals and schools.
Global Perspective
The declaration mirrors equivalent concerns made by the Vatican leader, who has called for "deep reflection about the way migrants are being addressed in the US under the current administration."
Wider Consequences
This represents the initial formal statement of its type in more than ten years, underscoring the significance of the religious authorities' apprehensions about present border measures.
