Vice President JD Vance blasts U.S. Catholic bishops condemning ICE entering churches and schools
Vice President JD Vance The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops blasted the Trump administration’s recent actions on immigration, saying the church may be more concerned about “their bottom line” than humanitarian causes.
On “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan“In his first interview since being sworn in on January 20, the Vice President said that several orders targeting immigrants were enacted under President Trump to fulfill campaign promises.
Hours after the inauguration, the Trump administration Revoked a policy This prohibits U.S. immigration agents from being in or near schools, places of worship and other places considered “sensitive locations.”
Vance said Saturday that the order, along with several other immigration actions, puts “law enforcement everywhere to enforce the law to protect Americans.” The Trump administration issued about 200 enforcement actions, including denials, in its first day in office birthright citizenship To children of unauthorized immigrants and temporary visa holders – some legal challenges. His other executive actions, including ice orders, may face legal challenges.
But it was the orders on churches and schools that drew the ire of Mark from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. J Seitz, Chairman, Immigration Committee, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, told CBS News “Many of the policies we see are contrary to the fundamental tenets of our faith.”
Vance, a devout Catholic, harshly condemned the bishop’s censure. “Because as a practicing Catholic, I’m actually saddened by that statement,” he said.
Vance told Brennan that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is “frankly not a good partner in the common sense immigration enforcement that the American people voted for.”
Brennan asked Vance if he specifically supports immigration agents entering churches and schools and “carrying out raids or enforcement actions at schools against church services.”
Vance said he “supports the way we police violent criminals, whether illegal immigrants or anyone else, to keep us safe.”
Vance asked the bishops if they were more worried about their bottom line, noting they have received more than $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants.
He said he hopes “as devout Catholics they will do better.”
In response, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement on Sunday: “True to the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church has a long history of serving refugees.”
“In 1980, America’s bishops began working with the federal government when Congress enacted the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) outside the United States,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said. “In an agreement with the government, the USCCB received funding for this work; however, these funds were insufficient to cover the full cost of these programs. Nonetheless, this remains a mercy and ministry of the church.”
Many resettlement refugee agencies are faith-based groups. Many of these groups were also told Friday that some of their federal funding would be suspended, days after Trump enacted pause indefinitely Under the Admissions of Refugees in the United States.
Trump also issued orders to expand detention sites to hold deportees and increase agreements with local law enforcement to solicit military assistance in border enforcement through emergency declarations.
