On Monday, Florida’s Catholic bishops sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to pause immigration enforcement during the Christmas holidays, but the White House replied that business would continue as normal.
The Appeal
The appeal was issued by Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski and signed by seven other members of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops. In the letter, Wenski wrote:
> “The border has been secured. The initial work of identifying and removing dangerous criminals has been accomplished to a great degree.”
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> “At this point, the maximum enforcement approach of treating irregular immigrants en masse means that now many of these arrest operations inevitably sweep up numbers of people who are not criminals but just here to work.”
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> “A climate of fear and anxiety is infecting not only the irregular migrant but also family members and neighbors who are legally in the country.”
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> “Since these effects are part of enforcement operations, we request that the government pause apprehension and round-up activities during the Christmas season. Such a pause would show a decent regard for the humanity of these families.”
Wenski’s message framed the request as a moral appeal, stressing that enforcement actions that indiscriminately sweep up non-criminals create fear for both migrants and their families.
White House Response
Responding via email, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson did not mention the holiday season. Her two-sentence reply was:
> “President Trump was elected based on his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens. And he’s keeping that promise.”
Jackson’s brief note emphasized the administration’s commitment to its immigration-enforcement agenda, without addressing the bishops’ request.
Archbishop Wenski’s Advocacy
Wenski has long been known as an outspoken advocate for humane treatment of migrants. In September, he joined other Catholic leaders on a panel at Georgetown University where they decried the Trump administration’s hard-line policies for tearing apart families, inciting fear and upending church life.
During that panel, Wenski highlighted the economic contributions of immigrants:
> “If you ask people in agriculture, you ask in the service industry, you ask people in health care, you ask the people in the construction field, and they’ll tell you that some of their best workers are immigrants.”
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> “Enforcement is always going to be part of any immigration policy, but we have to rationalize it and humanize it.”
These remarks underscore Wenski’s view that enforcement must be balanced with compassion and respect for human dignity.
Knights on Bikes and “Alligator Alcatraz”
Wenski’s commitment to migrant dignity extends beyond rhetoric. He joined the “Knights on Bikes” ministry, an initiative led by the Knights of Columbus that brings spiritual care to people held in immigration detention centers. One of the facilities the ministry visits is the Florida Everglades detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Wenski recalled praying a rosary with the bikers in the scorching heat outside the walls of the facility. Days later, he received permission to celebrate Mass inside the detention center. He said:
> “The fact that we invite these detainees to pray, even in this very dehumanizing situation, is a way of emphasizing and invoking their dignity.”
The ministry’s work illustrates how religious leaders can offer comfort and spiritual support to detainees in harsh conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Florida Catholic bishops, led by Archbishop Wenski, requested a pause in immigration enforcement over Christmas.
- The White House replied that enforcement would remain unchanged.
- Wenski has repeatedly emphasized the need to balance enforcement with humane treatment and has highlighted immigrants’ contributions to the economy.
- His involvement with the Knights on Bikes ministry demonstrates a practical commitment to supporting detainees’ dignity.
Closing
The bishops’ letter and the White House’s response highlight a continuing tension between religious appeals for compassion and the administration’s enforcement priorities. While the appeal did not alter policy, it underscored the moral arguments that many faith leaders bring to the national debate over immigration. As the holiday season approaches, the discussion over how enforcement is carried out will remain a point of contention for both policymakers and advocates.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
