White House Rejects Catholic Bishops’ Call for Christmas Deportation Pause

As the Trump administration continues its unapologetic mission to restore law and order at the southern border, it’s now facing a challenge from an unlikely source: America’s Catholic bishops.

Led by Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, a coalition of Florida bishops formally asked President Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis this week to pause immigration enforcement during the Christmas season, citing concerns over “humanity” and “climate of fear.” The White House, however, is not budging.

“President Trump was elected based on his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens. And he’s keeping that promise,” said spokeswoman Abigail Jackson in a statement that made the administration’s position crystal clear.

This comes as the administration accelerates targeted deportation operations, largely focused on criminal illegal aliens and repeat offenders many of whom have slipped through the cracks under previous administrations.

But instead of praising the effort to protect American citizens, the bishops are now demanding leniency during the holidays, claiming that ICE operations are targeting “industrious, non-criminal workers.” Wenski even referenced the “climate of fear” in areas surrounding detention centers like “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades.

The reality? This isn’t about Christmas spirit it’s about undermining immigration law.

Here’s what’s really happening:

• Roughly 60% of ICE arrests in 2024 involved individuals with criminal records, according to DHS data.

• The border crisis has seen over 2 million illegal crossings per year under previous policies numbers that are finally dropping under Trump’s renewed enforcement push.

• Interior deportations have increased 31% since the restart of Trump-era protocols, focusing on criminals, traffickers, and gang members.

Meanwhile, this plea from the bishops coincides with a broader shift inside the Catholic Church, as newly-appointed Archbishop Ronald Hicks replaces Cardinal Timothy Dolan in New York. Dolan despite occasional criticisms maintained a cordial relationship with President Trump and even delivered the invocation at his second inauguration.

But Hicks, handpicked by Pope Leo XIV, represents a more combative posture. A former missionary in El Salvador and vocal supporter of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ recent statement condemning deportations, Hicks is expected to intensify the Church’s activism against immigration enforcement.

Even Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has signaled disapproval of strict enforcement, claiming that “inhuman treatment of immigrants” may contradict pro-life values.

Let’s be honest: this is a political power play cloaked in religious language.

The message from the Trump administration is clear. No more delays. No more excuses. The law will be enforced, regardless of the calendar. That includes Christmas.

For decades, sanctuary policies, activist judges, and open-border rhetoric have allowed our immigration system to be abused. Now that there’s finally a president with the backbone to fix it, the opposition isn’t just coming from Washington it’s coming from the pulpit.

The bishops may argue for compassion, but compassion doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to lawlessness. President Trump was elected to defend the sovereignty of this nation, not to grant seasonal amnesty based on emotional appeals.

Christmas is about hope, faith, and peace but none of that is possible without security and the rule of law.

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