In a rare official declaration, the national Catholic bishops organization has issued a sharp criticism of the White House's border enforcement measures.
Religious authorities voiced being troubled by threats against the sanctity of religious sites and the special nature of medical facilities and educational institutions.
Nations must maintain border control while developing equitable, systematic immigration processes that serve public welfare.
Within their declaration, the religious figures characterized what they labeled "a environment of apprehension around questions of targeting" and border control measures.
They revealed being disappointed by the current discussion and negative portrayal of migrants, while resisting what they called "the blanket expulsion of people."
Church authorities also raised significant concerns about:
The White House has advanced an aggressive immigration agenda since beginning the term, including rescinding policies that limited immigration arrests near designated sites such as churches, hospitals and schools.
The message mirrors equivalent concerns made by the Vatican leader, who has called for "serious consideration about the way migrants are being addressed in the US under present leadership."
This marks the first formal statement of its type in over a decade, highlighting the significance of the religious authorities' apprehensions about existing enforcement approaches.