U.S. Bishops Issue Immigration-Reform Guidance Just Days Prior To Trump Inauguration

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued guidelines for immigration reform that encourage lawmakers to safeguard communities in a “targeted, proportional and humane” manner.

With President-elect Donald Trump taking office on Jan. 20, bishops have grown increasingly vocal about immigration policy. The incoming president has expressed his intent to implement mass deportations of immigrants who are in the country illegally — a position that many bishops are voicing concerns about.

The guidance issued this month, just weeks before Trump takes office, states that “safeguarding American communities and upholding the rule of law are laudable goals” but adds that “a country’s rights to regulate its borders and enforce its immigration laws must be balanced with its responsibilities to uphold the sanctity of human life, respect the God-given dignity of all persons, and enact policies that further the common good.”

“Enforcement measures should focus on those who present genuine risks and dangers to society, particularly efforts to reduce gang activity, stem the flow of drugs, and end human trafficking,” the guidelines read.

“Just enforcement also requires limiting the use of detention, especially for families, children, pregnant women, the sick, elderly, and disabled, given its proven harms and the pervasive lack of appropriate care in detention settings,” the guidance continues.

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