The Catholic bishops of Florida asked President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend immigration raids and detentions during the Christmas holidays, warning that current enforcement policies are generating fear among entire communities, including families with legal status.

The request was spearheaded by the Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, and endorsed by seven other members of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, who sent a formal letter to the White House calling for a more humane approach.

In the document, Wenski acknowledged that the border has been secured and that the identification and deportation of dangerous criminals has been largely accomplished, but warned that mass enforcement is now reaching workers with no criminal record.

The prelate maintained that the climate of fear and anxiety is spreading not only among undocumented immigrants, but also among their family members and neighbors with legal status, affecting the daily lives of entire communities in South Florida and other parts of the state.

Given this situation, the bishops asked the federal government to suspend raids during the Christmas season, as a gesture of respect for the human dignity of the affected families and a sign of sensitivity during a period traditionally dedicated to the encounter and solidarity.

Official Response and Defense of the Hardline Approach

The White House implicitly rejected the request and stated that policies will remain unchanged, emphasizing that the president was elected on a promise to sport undocumented immigrants with criminal records and that he is fulfilling that commitment made to voters.

Presidential advocate Abigail Jackson responded by email in a brief message that avoided mentioning Christmas and reiterated that the government's priority is the strict enforcement of immigration law in accordance with the administration's agenda.

Wenski has distinguished himself in recent years as one of the strongest voices within the Catholic Church advocating for more humane treatment of migrants, even participating in academic panels to denounce policies that separate families and disrupt community life.

In public statements, the archbishop also highlighted the contribution of immigrants to key sectors of the American economy, noting that agriculture, services, health, and construction depend heavily on foreign workers committed to their communities.

As part of his pastoral work, Wenski recently joined the “Knights on Bicycles” ministry, an initiative that visits immigration detention centers to attend to the spiritual needs of detainees, including the Everglades complex known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” conditions.

Wenski stated that inviting detained migrants to pray, even in such a dehumanizing environment, is a concrete way to remember and reaffirm their dignity, emphasizing that faith must also be expressed through the defense of those who live on the margins.

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