by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
In early February, I wrote an article commending President Trump and his administration for their efforts to deport gang and cartel members, individuals with serious criminal histories, dealers of illegal drugs and individuals engaged with human trafficking. I was criticized by some who oppose anything associated with the current administration.
I also wrote that if the Trump administration was successful in closing the border from illegal entry, this could provide an opportunity for humane and prudent solutions for the vast majority of undocumented immigrants who are not members of gangs or cartels, who are not involved with smuggling of drugs or human trafficking and who have no other criminal history. All of the data shows the administration has been remarkably successful in closing the border. In his address to a joint session of Congress, Trump acknowledged this success by chiding the previous administration’s claim that new legislation was necessary to protect our border, when new leadership was all that was needed.
I urge and plead with President Trump and his advisers to take advantage of this opportunity to solve the illegal immigration problem that has plagued our nation for decades. I continue to applaud the efforts of the current administration to deport those bad actors who have entered our country illegally with evil intentions to give cartels and gangs control of many of our poorest neighborhoods, to addict young people to drugs and to enslave to a life of misery our most vulnerable youth through the incredible evil of human trafficking.
Many, if not most, of undocumented immigrants were enticed and encouraged to enter the United States because of the irresponsibly lax border polices of previous administrations. These immigrants were motivated, like so many of our ancestors, to take advantage of the opportunity to provide better lives for their families. They only desired the American dream, the freedoms and the opportunities for success that our country affords those willing to work hard and respect the rights of others.
One of our priests shared with me an anecdote of ICE agents conducting a raid in one of the parish’s poorest neighborhoods. They arrested undocumented immigrants who operated a notorious drug house. The neighborhood was grateful that ICE had removed this criminal and societal cancer that afflicted their community. Though there were many undocumented neighbors, who are hardworking and productive members of the community, the ICE agents left them undisturbed.
Unfortunately, the birth rates in the United States are below replacement level. This is a death sentence for a culture. Many U.S. citizens are choosing to have pets instead of children. Without our immigrant families, the data would be even worse for the future of our nation.
The United States is far from a perfect society. In our history, slavery and racism have scarred the soul of our nation. Many young people who were born in the United States and enjoy the privileges of citizenship have been taught to despise our country. It is immigrants that have historically renewed our nation because they appreciate the many strengths of the American experiment, despite our historical and current flaws.
The administration has received significant opposition in its efforts to deport even cartel and gang members. They are currently engaged in numerous court battles. I encourage the administration to keep their attention focused on deporting those undocumented with serious criminal histories.
For those undocumented immigrants who are here because they cherish the freedoms we enjoy and the opportunities for economic improvement for those willing to work hard, let us strive to find ways that are both just and merciful. In fairness to those who patiently waited to enter the United States legally, this could mean that citizenship is not possible for those that entered without proper documentation, but a type of legal status is granted permitting them to continue to work in the United States. They would not qualify for privileges that citizens enjoy, but they would not have to live in the shadows where they can be exploited and live under a cloud of uncertainty and vulnerability.
Mass deportations of noncriminals will result in societal chaos and losing the support of many Americans. Most Americans support deportation of undocumented immigrants who violate our laws and harm both citizens and noncitizens.
Keep the border secure and clearly warn those who enter the United States in the future illegally that they will be deported. The president has already expressed an openness to granting legal status to Dreamers — those brought to this country as children. Historically, our country has been generous with legal immigration policies that are available not just for the wealthy or those with particular professional skills. With appropriate security checks, we can be generous in welcoming authentic refugees fleeing oppression in their homeland as well as some of the world’s poor. It is our immigrant ancestors who helped to build American culture and society. Our new immigrants will help to preserve and sustain our nation.
I encourage members of the archdiocese to write the president, our Kansas U.S. senators and members of Congress urging them to support policies that deport bad actors, while opposing mass deportations that will create a new form of societal chaos. I am confident that our elected leaders have the wisdom and creativity to develop pathways for a type of legal status, short of citizenship, for those who entered in the past illegally but have and are contributing to the well-being of our society. They actually will help renew our country.
Please also encourage our lawmakers to enact policies that are generous in providing opportunities for welcoming refugees and allowing for legal and orderly immigration. I challenge the administration to draft one big, beautiful bill that will begin to end our country’s illegal immigration problem.
President Trump has created an opportunity to provide real solutions to illegal immigration that will be good not only for immigrants but also for American society. Deport the bad actors, keep our border secure and make the American dream a possibility for those already in our country and for those who yearn in the future to contribute their energy, talents and virtues to our society. We have a unique opportunity at this moment to do something good for our nation by fulfilling the Gospel mandate to welcome the stranger.
Trump’s pope photo offensive
President Trump masquerading as the pope on social media was an offensive, ill-advised and flawed attempt at humor. This trivialization of the importance of the papacy was disrespectful to more than one billion Catholics worldwide and especially to millions of U.S. Catholics. I hope that before this column is published, the president has apologized to the Catholic community. Nevertheless, Catholics need to work with the current administration for just and humane treatment of undocumented immigrants. One practical way the president could demonstrate remorse for this social blunder is to take seriously the moral concerns of Catholics and many people of good will about his plans for mass deportations. I urge the president to give serious consideration to my suggestions on a just and humane way to address the issue of immigration reform.
