American Catholic Bishops Condemn White House Border Enforcement
Via a rare formal message, the national Catholic bishops organization has delivered a strong condemnation of the White House's immigration crackdown.
Official Declaration Shows Deep Concern
Religious authorities expressed being concerned by threats against the special status of churches and the special nature of hospitals and schools.
Nations must maintain border control while developing equitable, systematic immigration processes that serve public welfare.
Environment of Apprehension
In their message, the bishops characterized what they termed "a atmosphere of anxiety around questions of profiling" and immigration enforcement.
They stated being disappointed by the ongoing debate and vilification of foreign nationals, while rejecting what they described as "the widespread removal of people."
Other Worries
Religious leaders also raised significant concerns about:
- Situations in border holding facilities
- Random revocation of legal status for certain immigrants
- Insufficiency in meaningful immigration reform
Administrative Shifts
Federal authorities has advanced an stringent border policy since beginning the term, including revoking policies that curtailed immigration apprehensions near sensitive locations such as places of worship, healthcare establishments and learning institutions.
International Context
The declaration parallels equivalent concerns made by the Vatican leader, who has advocated for "deep reflection about the way foreign nationals are being addressed in the US under the current administration."
Extended Ramifications
This constitutes the premier special message of its nature in over a decade, underscoring the gravity of the church leaders' worries about present border measures.
