In a infrequent official declaration, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a strong condemnation of the White House's border enforcement measures.
Church leaders voiced being disturbed by potential violations of the special status of houses of worship and the unique character of hospitals and schools.
Countries bear the duty to manage their boundaries and create fair, organized immigration frameworks for the benefit of all.
Through their statement, the religious figures described what they labeled "a environment of apprehension around questions of profiling" and immigration policies.
They expressed being saddened by the ongoing debate and demonization of foreign nationals, while rejecting what they described as "the blanket expulsion of people."
Church authorities also raised serious worries about:
The White House has advanced an aggressive immigration agenda since assuming power, including revoking policies that limited immigration arrests near designated sites such as churches, hospitals and schools.
The declaration echoes similar critiques made by Pope Leo, who has urged "deep reflection about the way foreign nationals are being treated in the US under the current administration."
This constitutes the first formal statement of its nature in more than ten years, emphasizing the seriousness of the bishops' concerns about present border measures.
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