American Roman Catholic Bishops Condemn White House Border Policies
Through a rare official declaration, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a sharp criticism of the White House's immigration policies.
Formal Statement Shows Significant Apprehension
The bishops voiced being concerned by potential violations of the special status of houses of worship and the unique character 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
Through their statement, the church leaders portrayed what they labeled "a climate of fear around questions of profiling" and immigration enforcement.
They expressed being disheartened by the current discussion and vilification of foreign nationals, while rejecting what they referred to as "the widespread removal of people."
Further Issues
The bishops also expressed significant concerns about:
- Conditions in border holding facilities
- Random revocation of authorized standing for various foreign nationals
- Insufficiency in comprehensive immigration system improvements
Policy Changes
The White House has advanced an stringent border policy since beginning the term, including rescinding policies that curtailed immigration detentions near protected areas such as churches, hospitals and schools.
Worldwide Dimension
The message echoes comparable criticisms made by the Catholic pontiff, who has called for "thorough contemplation about the way migrants are being handled in the US under the current administration."
Extended Ramifications
This represents the initial special message of its kind in more than ten years, highlighting the seriousness of the bishops' concerns about present border measures.
