We join migrants, immigrants and immigrant communities across the U.S. in welcoming the efforts of Pope Leo XIV and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in their strong advocacy for immigrant dignity and rights. The Roman Catholic Church has been among the most vocal critics among faith-based groups to condemn ICE’s cruel and in some cases unlawful apprehensions.
Pope Leo XIV on multiple occasions appealed for compassion and respect in the treatment of migrants. “We have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have. If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts. There’s a system of justice,” he said.
Previously the Pontiff also said, “My own story is that of a citizen, the descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate,” he told ambassadors at the Vatican. “All of us, in the course of our lives, can find ourselves healthy or sick, employed or unemployed, living in our native land or in a foreign country, yet our dignity always remains unchanged. It is the dignity of a creature willed and loved by God,” he added.
Pope Leo XIV called for the bishops in the U.S. to come together and take a unified stance on the migrant issue in the nation. Shortly after, the USCCB issued a rare and powerful message – endorsed by 95% of its members — at their assembly which the Pope later supported, saying “When people are living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years, to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful… I think the bishops have been very clear,” he said. He urged Americans “to listen to them.”
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) statement
“We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement,” the statement read, and added they are “saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants,” emphasizing that Christian teaching requires compassion for migrants.
The bishops also said they are “concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care,” and that they also opposed “the indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”
They’ve appealed to lawmakers and all people of goodwill to seek comprehensive immigration reform that includes:
- Protection of family unity
- Respect for due process and human rights
- Access to asylum for those fleeing violence or persecution
- Opportunities for legal status and integration for long-term residents
- Addressing root causes of migration through international cooperation
The bishops’ “special message” was the first time since 2013 they had drafted a single-issue statement at one of their meetings. And their timing to unite with a single message couldn’t be timelier and bolder.
Priests across many dioceses have made the point that Jesus himself was a migrant and refugee.
Faith groups besides the Catholic Church have criticized the federal government for reversing a Biden administration directive prohibiting immigration agents from carrying out raids at sensitive areas such as churches, schools and hospitals.
In addition, a coalition of Catholic ministers are suing the federal government for the right to administer the Eucharist at detention centers that ICE has prohibited priests from doing.
Urge faith leaders to continue the fight
Our immigrant community is fortunate to have a powerful ally in the Catholic Church and other faith-based groups. We see their leaders at protests and prayer vigils expressing passionate discontent with some of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Priests have accompanied migrants to their court hearings. One priest walked 900 miles across several states to bring awareness to the inhumane treatment of migrants.
Their position is not only rooted in the core teachings of the Catholic faith and the gospels but also resonates deeply with universal values of justice, human dignity, and the common good.
From a theological perspective, there are numerous scriptures that call for the stranger, the foreigner to be welcomed and treated as the local natives.
At the heart of the bishops’ statement is a profound moral imperative that echoes the biblical command to “love your neighbor as yourself” and reflects the Catholic tradition’s unwavering support for the vulnerable and marginalized.
The Church and faith-based group’s position on the current migration round ups is much needed moral clarity on this intense issue that is lost among many sectors of American society. Some could even argue that immigration is not a mere political issue – especially a policy that separates the undocumented from their families, individuals who’ve been living in the U.S for decades without any criminal record — but a deeply religious one. It might sound old fashioned to some in modern society, but it bodes well that the Church takes a leadership role in social activism, specifically on immigration.
We must remember the valuable contributions that immigrants make to our communities. They enrich our culture, strengthen our workforce, and revitalize our neighborhoods. They strengthen our economy and certainly are not a burden as the Trump administration portrays.
Pope Leo XIV and American bishops are calling American Catholics and all Americans to reject fearmongering on our immigrant population and to work on solutions to be taken up in immigration reform. We support this.
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