Overview
- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the statement 216–5–3 at its Baltimore meeting, using its first special message since 2013.
- Cardinal Blase Cupich secured a last-minute amendment to explicitly denounce indiscriminate deportations after pushback against releasing a softer draft.
- The message cites a climate of fear, harsh detention conditions, restricted pastoral access, and threats to churches, hospitals, and schools.
- Bishops affirmed nations’ right to regulate borders while urging meaningful immigration reform and an end to dehumanizing rhetoric.
- The White House defended the president’s agenda, with a spokesperson saying he is keeping his promise to deport criminal undocumented immigrants.