Overview
- Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski led an appeal signed by eight Florida bishops asking President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis to halt immigration arrests over the Christmas season, with some requests running through New Year or Jan. 6.
- White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said enforcement will continue, citing the president’s pledge to deport criminal illegal aliens, while DeSantis’ office offered no immediate comment.
- The bishops argued the border is secure and said mass operations now sweep up people here to work, noting in their statement over half a million deportations this year and nearly two million voluntary departures.
- Reporting noted the administration rescinded limits on arrests near churches, hospitals and schools and has expanded nationwide operations, with plans to intensify them in the new year despite concerns about non-criminal arrests.
- The appeal aligns with recent U.S. bishops’ statements and comments from Pope Leo XIV urging humane treatment, as advocates highlight detention conditions at facilities such as Krome, known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”