American Roman Catholic Church Leaders Condemn White House Border Policies
In a rare formal message, America's Catholic bishop leadership has delivered a sharp criticism of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Special Message Reveals Deep Concern
Religious authorities voiced being troubled by risks to the sanctity of houses of worship and the special nature of medical facilities and educational institutions.
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 religious figures characterized what they called "a climate of fear around questions of targeting" and immigration enforcement.
They stated being disappointed by the ongoing debate and demonization of foreign nationals, while rejecting what they called "the widespread removal of people."
Additional Concerns
Religious leaders also voiced significant concerns about:
- Conditions in migrant detention facilities
- Random revocation of authorized standing for some migrants
- Insufficiency in meaningful immigration reform
Procedural Adjustments
Federal authorities has implemented an tough immigration approach since taking office, including eliminating policies that limited immigration arrests near protected areas such as religious institutions, medical facilities and educational centers.
Worldwide Dimension
The declaration echoes equivalent concerns made by the Vatican leader, who has called for "serious consideration about the way migrants are being addressed in the US under Trump."
Extended Ramifications
This represents the premier formal statement of its nature in over a decade, emphasizing the seriousness of the church leaders' worries about present border measures.
