American Roman Catholic Church Leaders Criticize White House Border Enforcement
Through a rare official declaration, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a firm denunciation of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Formal Statement Expresses Serious Worry
Church leaders expressed being concerned by risks to the special status of religious sites and the unique character of hospitals and schools.
Nations must maintain border control while developing equitable, systematic immigration processes that serve public welfare.
Environment of Apprehension
Through their statement, the religious figures portrayed what they termed "a environment of apprehension around questions of discrimination" and immigration policies.
They expressed being disheartened by the present discourse and negative portrayal of foreign nationals, while rejecting what they called "the widespread removal of people."
Other Worries
Church authorities also voiced major apprehensions about:
- Situations in immigration detention centers
- Arbitrary removal of legal status for certain immigrants
- Insufficiency in meaningful immigration reform
Policy Changes
Federal authorities has advanced an tough immigration approach since taking office, including revoking policies that limited immigration apprehensions near designated sites such as religious institutions, medical facilities and educational centers.
International Context
The message echoes equivalent concerns made by the Vatican leader, who has called for "thorough contemplation about the way migrants are being handled in the US under Trump."
Wider Consequences
This constitutes the initial official declaration of its kind in 12 years, emphasizing the seriousness of the church leaders' worries about present border measures.
