Pope Leo XIV came out in support of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) statement criticizing the Trump administration's treatment of illegal immigrants on Tuesday. He described the bishops as "people of goodwill" and their condemnation as "a very important statement." He urged people to listen very carefully to what they had to say.
"We have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have. If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts. There's a system of justice," Leo said. "I think there are a lot of problems in the system."
"No one has said that the United States should have open borders. I think every country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter," he continued. "But when people are living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years, to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful, to say the least — and there's been some violence, unfortunately — I think that the bishops have been very clear in what they said."
"I would just invite all people in the United States to listen to them," he concluded.
Pope Leo XIV responding to the US bishops’ statement on the detention and deportation of migrants:
— Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) November 18, 2025
“No one has said that the United States should have open borders. I think every country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter. But when people are living good… pic.twitter.com/1wK9suWlNJ
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Just last week, the USCCB released a video condemning the White House's "inhumane" deportation raids.
NEW: Following Pope Leo XIV's lead, the U.S. bishops release a new video condemning the Trump-Vance White House’s “inhumane” deportation raids. pic.twitter.com/EXEPVupcCH
— Christopher Hale (@chrisjollyhale) November 13, 2025
White House officials blasted their condemnation, arguing that President Trump was keeping the promises he made during his campaign, which included "deport[ing] criminal illegal aliens."
Border Czar Tom Homan, a practicing Catholic, also responded to the condemnation, arguing: "I think they need to spend time fixing the Catholic Church," rather than condemning the president's actions.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped. Despite the radical left's lies, new legislation wasn't needed to secure our border, just a new president.
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