The Catholic bishops of the United States said Wednesday that the enforcement of immigration laws constitutes a “crisis situation” that affects human dignity and religious freedom in the country, in an extraordinary message of support for immigrants

The bishops voted almost unanimously Wednesday at their conference to condemn the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants as an attack on “God-given human dignity,” and called for “meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws.”

“We oppose the mass and indiscriminate deportation of people. We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether against immigrants or against law enforcement,” says the “Special Message” from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (USCCB).

Following the vote, with 216 votes in favor, 5 against, and three abstentions, the bishops stood and applauded.

The last “Special Message” of this kind was issued twelve years ago, and according to USCCB regulations, it can only be issued in plenary assemblies and must be approved by two-thirds of its members.

Although President Trump or members of his Cabinet are not appointed by the U.S. bishops, the special message constitutes a critique of the White House’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, which concerns the Vatican.

“We are saddened by the current state of the debate and the stigmatization of immigrants. We are troubled by the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care.

“We regret that some immigrants in the United States have arbitrarily lost their legal status,” the bishops warned. The bishops also said they were concerned about “the threat” of possible immigration raids at places of worship, hospitals, and schools. “It pains us to see parents who fear being detained while taking their children to school and comforting relatives who have already been separated from their loved ones,” they expressed.The USCCB also emphasized the “enormous contribution” of immigrants to the “well-being” of the United States and advocated for establishing safe and legal pathways for foreigners seeking a better life. The statement was released a week after Pope Leo XIV criticized the Trump Administration for its immigration policy and warned that there are immigrants who have lived for years in the United States without causing problems, but now “have been deeply affected” by Trump’s hardline policies. Leo XIV is the first American to become the head of the Catholic Church. The message also serves as a warning to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, a practicing Catholic.

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