Catholics Call Out Trump’s ICE
Senior Catholic leaders are expressing concern about how the Trump administration’s stepped-up immigration enforcement is affecting immigrant communities, even as federal officials continue to emphasize border security and the rule of law.
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a Sunday interview that recent deportation efforts have increased anxiety among migrants living in the United States. He argued that heightened enforcement actions have left many individuals uncertain about their future.
Coakley said that fear surrounding immigration enforcement is becoming more widespread and warned that sudden removals can undermine a sense of stability. He stressed that people should be able to live without constant worry over unexpected government action.
Last month, the Catholic bishops formally criticized the administration’s immigration approach, stating they were troubled by what they described as a growing climate of fear. Church leaders also raised concerns about immigration detention facilities and said access to pastoral and religious care has been limited for some detainees.
In their statement, the bishops said certain migrants have lost legal status due to policy changes that they believe were applied broadly rather than individually reviewed.
The Vatican later addressed the issue, with Pope Leo XIV describing the bishops’ message as significant. While acknowledging serious flaws in the U.S. immigration system, the pope made clear that he does not support open borders. At the same time, he urged that migrants — including those who have lived in the country for many years — be treated with fairness and humanity.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 527,000 migrants without legal status have been removed from the United States since President Trump returned to office. DHS also reported that approximately 1.6 million additional migrants left the country voluntarily during that same period.
Federal immigration enforcement has increased in multiple major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, North Carolina, as the administration continues its effort to enforce existing immigration laws and regain control of the border.
Coakley, who also serves as archbishop of Oklahoma City, said the nation has both the right and the responsibility to secure its borders. He emphasized, however, that enforcing immigration law does not require abandoning respect for human dignity.
He concluded by stating that dignity is inherent and not granted by government authority, arguing that law enforcement and humane treatment should coexist within a lawful immigration system.
