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In a rare public statement, the national Catholic bishops organization has issued a strong condemnation of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Official Declaration Expresses Serious Worry

Church leaders stated being concerned by potential violations of the sanctity of churches and the special nature of healthcare centers and learning establishments.

Countries bear the duty to manage their boundaries and create fair, organized immigration frameworks for the benefit of all.

Environment of Apprehension

Through their statement, the bishops described what they labeled "a environment of apprehension around questions of targeting" and immigration policies.

They revealed being disheartened by the ongoing debate and negative portrayal of immigrants, while rejecting what they described as "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people."

Additional Concerns

The bishops also raised major apprehensions about:

• Situations in migrant detention facilities
• Arbitrary removal of authorized standing for certain immigrants
• Absence of meaningful immigration reform

Policy Changes

Federal authorities has pursued an tough immigration approach since beginning the term, including eliminating policies that curtailed immigration arrests near protected areas such as places of worship, healthcare establishments and learning institutions.

Worldwide Dimension

The message echoes equivalent concerns made by Pope Leo, who has called for "deep reflection about the way immigrants are being addressed in the US under Trump."

Broader Implications

This represents the premier formal statement of its kind in more than ten years, underscoring the gravity of the bishops' concerns about existing enforcement approaches.