Catholic bishops, clergy and religious across the nation continue to weigh in on the Trump administration’s sweeping changes to U.S. immigration policy, stressing the need to respect human dignity amid efforts to address immigration challenges.
Immigration and Migration
Bishops sue Trump administration, say halting refugee resettlement funds will cause harm
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sued the Trump administration Feb. 18 over the suspension of funding of refugee resettlement assistance.
Bishops’ migration chair invites Vance to dialogue over church’s work with migrants
The U.S. bishops’ migration chair called recent comments by Vice President JD Vance about the church’s work with migrants “a tremendous mischaracterization” while speaking at an event in the nation’s capital Feb. 12. But he also invited Vance to sit down and talk with him to set the record straight.
Bishops defend Catholic Charities work with migrants, refugees as obedience to Jesus
Catholic Charities agencies provide essential services, such as food, clothing and a place to sleep, as part of how the church puts the Gospel mandate from Jesus Christ into action.
U.S. bishops thank Pope Francis for support amid ‘struggle’ on migration issues
The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Feb. 11 thanked Pope Francis for his support for the U.S. bishops’ work with migrants and refugees amid the current “struggle” on immigration policies in the U.S.
Faith groups sue over Trump administration policy to permit ICE arrests at churches
More than two dozen Christian and Jewish groups filed a lawsuit Feb. 11 in federal court to challenge a Trump administration policy that rescinded long-standing restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from making arrests at what are seen as sensitive locations, including houses of worship, schools and hospitals.
Pope to U.S.: Migration policies built on force, not truth, ‘will end badly’
Pope Francis has urged U.S. Catholics and people of goodwill to not give in to “narratives” that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to migrants and refugees.
Third federal judge blocks Trump administration’s effort to end birthright citizenship
After two federal judges in two days blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to rescind birthright citizenship, a third federal judge followed suit on Feb. 10.
USCCB lays off a third of migration staff after Trump’s suspension of refugee resettlement program
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued layoff notices to about a third of the staff in its Migration and Refugee Services Office on Feb. 7 after it stopped receiving reimbursements from the federal government for its work with refugees who qualify for federal assistance, per an internal memo.
Bringing clarity, context to the U.S. bishops’ stance in immigration debate
Most Americans do want a solution to the perceived chaos on our borders. The U.S. bishops following Catholic social teaching do recognize that national sovereignty affords nations’ the right to control their borders. We have never advocated for “open borders” or that “bad actors” should be admitted indiscriminately or that wrong doers of any type be free to roam our streets and endanger our citizens.
Analysis: New immigration policies risk sending migrants back to failed states, war zones
As part of swift and sweeping changes to immigration policy, the Trump administration is aiming to end or severely curtail two forms of immigration status that have been granted to hundreds of thousands escaping war, disaster, violence and humanitarian crises — Temporary Protected Status and humanitarian parole.
In 2 days, 2 judges block Trump administration’s effort to end birthright citizenship
Two federal judges in two days blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to rescind birthright citizenship.