Catholic Bishops on Immigration Enforcement

The U.S. Catholic Bishops have been thinking about, praying over, and writing on immigration since the 1920s! Here we explore the first of 6 elements of their publication titled Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform, published in January 2025.

Element 1: Enforcement efforts should be targeted, proportional, and humane

The bishops stress the importance of:

• Keeping American communities safe and upholding the rule of law.

• Balancing a nation’s regulation of borders and enforcement of immigration laws along with its responsibilities to uphold the sanctity of human life.

• Respecting the God-given dignity of all persons.

• Enacting policies that further the common good . . . enforcement measures should focus on those who present genuine risks and dangers to society, i.e. those involved in illegal gang activity, trafficking of drugs and human beings.

• Limiting detention of more vulnerable people, i.e. “families, children, pregnant women, the sick, elderly, and disabled” recognizing that detention settings lack appropriate care.

• Not using military personnel, resources, and tactics in immigration enforcement.

• Carrying “out deportations and other enforcement actions” with due regard for families, community ties, and religious liberty interests.”

How has this and previous administrations respected the sanctity of life? How have they neglected to respect the sanctity of life? Has our country done a good job at limiting actions against vulnerable people and targeting those who present genuine risks to society?

“Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor”

—Zechariah 7:9-10 (NRSV - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)

Over the next weeks, please return to learn the remaining elements and review related questions to ponder. 

Join us to gain a clearer understanding of how immigration, policy and human dignity intersect at Immigration: Facts, Fiction and Faith with Darryl Morin, National President of Forward Latino. St. Anthony on the Lake, Wednesday, February 4th, 6:30 - 8:30pm.