Background
Washington, D.C.’s new archbishop, Cardinal Robert McElroy, has advocated heterodox pastoral positions which appear heterodox to me (cf, America Magazine. 6/24/23). It is anticipated that he will oppose President Trump’s efforts to deport migrants who are in the U.S. illegally:
The Catholic Church teaches that a country has the right to control its borders, and our nation’s desire to do that is a legitimate effort…At the same time, we are called always to have a sense of the dignity of every human person, and thus plans, which have been talked about at some levels, of having a wider, indiscriminate, massive deportation across the country would be something that would be incompatible with Catholic doctrine. So we’ll have to see what emerges in the administration (Cardinal McElroy, 1/6/25).
What Does the Catechism Say?
In many areas, the Catechism provides guidelines, but it does not provide a ready-to-be-implemented and detailed plan for people illegally in a country, just waiting for us to press “play”:
The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him (2241).
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens….
It is not the role of the Pastors of the Church to intervene directly in the political structuring and organization of social life….It is the role of the laity “to animate temporal realities with Christian commitment, by which they show that they are witnesses and agents of peace and justice (2442).
Vital Clarification
When the Catechism (# 2241) says “Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens,” it certainly begs questions about those are in countries illegally. As per Dominican Father Peter Totleben:
The definition of the “deportation” explicitly opposed in certain Catholic texts “does not apply to deportation in the colloquial sense that Americans use the term….they are not referring to simply repatriating migrants to their country of origin….in condemning “deportatio,” the Magisterium is thinking of things like the displacement of the Jews, or various displacements that occurred in Europe right after World War II, or things like ethnic cleansing (CatholicVote, 1/21/25)
People have the right to migrate, and countries have the right to regulate immigration:
Just because deportations, understood as repatriations, are not intrinsically immoral does not mean that a particular plan for mass deportations meets the demands of justice or prudence (CatholicVote, 1/21/25)
Conclusion
In addition to immigration, I believe that our hierarchy needs to focus far more attentively on the sanctity of all human life and the sanctity of marriage/family/human sexuality.
Around 2021, I started hearing concerns about unchecked immigration at our Southern border, which I initially thought had to be overblown. At a time of great emphasis on vaccination, how could migrants be able to enter without vaccinations and without being properly vetted?
Since President Joe Biden took office, the Department of Homeland Security has released an estimated 2 million migrants [as of May 2023] into the U.S. after minimal “processing.” This means taking their photos and fingerprints, entering (unverifiable) names and birth dates, running this data through U.S. law enforcement and immigration databases, and creating an immigration file if a prior one isn’t found….
As for “vetting,” in immigration terms it should mean making sure each unknown migrant isn’t a known terrorist, and doesn’t have a criminal record, contagious disease, or prior immigration violation….
However, DHS agents can only check crime and terrorism databases from the U.S. or some allies. That doesn’t include most of the countries the current wave is coming from….
Imagine if only 5% of Biden’s released migrants have criminal records we aren’t able to discover through “vetting” before releasing them. Whether they will re-offend, and who will be hurt, will be revealed, victim by victim, over the coming decades. (Heritage Foundation, 5/24/23)
As portrayed so disturbingly in Sound of Freedom, our present border practices are actually promoting the sexual trafficking of vulnerable people, especially minors.
The morality of plans for repatriating individuals who are not legally in the United States indeed requires prudential judgment:
The Catholic Church teaches that a country has the right to control its borders, and our nation’s desire to do that is a legitimate effort…. [We need to ensure specific plans are not] incompatible with Catholic doctrine (Cardinal McElroy, 1/6/25)
12 thoughts on ““Deportation” and Catholic Teaching”
The pews are almost empty.
The bishops need a constant flow of funds to maintain the diocese bureaucracy and to maintain their palatial USCCB HQ building in WDC. Follow the money.
Caesar’s crumbs solve the bishops’ prediciment nicely. The American Catholic bishops never met an illegal they didn’t like. The American bishops need illegal immigrants. Bet on it.
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You can’t let millions of people rushing your borders or it will lead to chaos and the destruction of your country. Right now the only ones that are being deported is the criminal element. Every country needs legal immigration and has a legal right to protect its borders or its not a country any longer. There have been wars caused over land and border crisis in the past. But it’s got to be done in a fair and just way and legally. The Democrats weren’t letting millions of illegals out of the goodness of their hearts but to swamp the Republican Party with future Democratic voters.
Captain and Ms. Lee,
I imagine that you are both nice people, but your comments leave me wondering if either of you read what I wrote.
This does not make for helpful discussions.
Joe
Your theory is unexceptionable. Countries are allowed to control who comes in, in a nondiscriminatory and just manner, and in a proper case, after adjudication, deportation can be ordered. This is all consistent with Catholic teaching and few would disagree it. Your facts are slanted and without foundation, and you seem oblivious to the real motivation behind the Trump policy.
You might remember last year that the Biden Administration worked out a deal with Congressional Republicans that gave them most of what they wanted and would have more or less solved the border crisis — but Trump did not want the problem solved under a Democratic President, so he ordered Republicans to back out of the deal, and of course, invertebrates that they are, they did.
To refresh your memory this is one of the articles on what happened.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-warn-house-wont-get-better-immigration-deal-trump-rcna134348
I have read what you have written and disagree with your premise and conclusions. It is not a helpful discussion to avoid discussion by distraction.
“vermin” “poisoning our blood”
Where have we heard this rhetoric before?
It is as certain that the Trump Administration will be as cruel as possible, as it is that this site once again chooses Republican positions when they conflict with Catholic positions. You evidently get your news only from right-wing sites so this is not a surprise.
It is racist to assume that migrants are disproportionately or even marginally criminal. Do you know any undocumenteds? I sure do. They keep their head down. They are here to work and support their children who will grow up American. It would be very stupid for anyone here illegally to get in trouble with the law.
Captain,
For the record, I was blessed to grow up in the most multi ethnic area of the United States. I am the child of an immigrant. I would never talk of fellow humans as “vermin” who are “poisoning our blood.”
You say, “Your facts are slanted and without foundation, and you seem oblivious to the real motivation behind the Trump policy.” There was a formatting issue, which may not have helped. Paragraphs 3 to 6 of my conclusion are actually an extended quote from the Heritage Foundation.
“vermin” “poisoning our blood”
You must know that these are Trump’s words. They dominate the entire political discussion and you should have dealt with them.
The problem with the Heritage Foundation is that it is a slanted right-wing site. I wouldn’t rely on them for facts. I looked at the article. It talks about “2 million” admitted with “minimal processing” (without saying where they got that number), talks about one criminal who got through, then speculates that 5% of the 2 million might be criminals.
Trump has been found by a jury to be a criminal. That is a fact. That is the difference between facts and speculation.
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Mass, indiscriminate deportations of people from their homes and business is illegal, immoral and obscene. It is also what Trump promised to do and millions voted for, becoming complicit in the grave evil. May God have mercy on their souls.
I just retrieved your 2nd comment.
Please note that I ended my piece with this quote: “The Catholic Church teaches that a country has the right to control its borders, and our nation’s desire to do that is a legitimate effort…. [We need to ensure specific plans are not] incompatible with Catholic doctrine (Cardinal McElroy, 1/6/25)”