A majority of U.S. Catholic voters hold a favorable opinion of Donald Trump, according to a recent EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research poll. The poll indicates that most Catholic voters support the broad-scale deportation of undocumented immigrants. The findings suggest a divergence between the views of the Catholic faithful and the public stance often taken by the country's Catholic bishops. The survey polled 1,000 self-identified Catholics between November 9 and November 11.
4 days ago
A poll conducted by EWTN News and RealClear Opinion Research from November 9-11, 2025, surveyed 1,000 self-identified Catholic voters in the U.S.1
It highlights a divide between Catholic support for President Trump's policies and the opposition from U.S. Catholic bishops on immigration.1
About 52% of Catholic voters view President Trump favorably, compared to 37% unfavorably and 11% neutral.1
Support is stronger among white Catholics (58% favorable) and weekly Mass attendees (over 60% favorable).1
A majority, 54%, of Catholic voters support broad-scale detention and deportation of unauthorized immigrants.1
Opposition stands at 30%, with 17% neutral; this exceeds overall Trump favorability.1
White Catholics show 60% support for deportations, versus 26% opposition.1
Latino Catholics are closely split, with 41% in support and 39% opposed; regular Mass-goers favor it at 58%.1
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recently opposed indiscriminate mass deportations in a message approved by over 95% of voting bishops.1
Pope Leo XIV urged Americans to heed the bishops, emphasizing humane treatment of immigrants.1
Theologian Chad Pecknold argues the bishops' liberal presuppositions on immigration are outdated and harm their credibility on national security.1
Historian Julia Young notes the Church's growth through immigration and its history of facing nativism, underscoring bishops' concern for their immigrant laity.1
The Catechism obligates prosperous nations to welcome foreigners to the extent possible, while immigrants must respect laws and contribute to society.1
Political authorities may impose conditions on immigration for the common good.1
Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers credited Trump's landslide Catholic support to actions like fighting anti-Christian bias and enforcing pro-life policies.1
The poll also shows favorable views among Catholics for Vice President JD Vance (50%) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (42%).1
Catholic voters favor Trump’s deportation policy, bishops oppose
The reported divide between Catholic voters who support former President Donald Trump's proposed mass deportation policies and the firm opposition from Catholic bishops highlights a significant challenge within the U.S. Catholic community. On one hand, polling data suggests that a majority of Catholic voters, particularly white and Hispanic Catholics, favor stricter enforcement measures amid concerns over border security and economic pressures. On the other, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and papal teachings consistently emphasize the human dignity of migrants, the moral imperative to welcome the stranger, and the need for humane, comprehensive immigration reform rather than punitive deportation. This analysis draws from authoritative Catholic sources to explore the Church's longstanding position, the ethical underpinnings of opposition to mass deportations, and potential reasons for the divergence among the faithful, urging a deeper alignment with Gospel principles.
Catholic doctrine has long viewed migration not merely as a political issue but as a profound human and moral one, rooted in the biblical call to hospitality and the recognition of every person's inherent dignity as a child of God. Pope Pius XII, in addresses to U.S. immigration officials in the post-World War II era, acknowledged the right of nations to regulate borders for the welfare of their citizens while insisting that such restrictions must be tempered by "Christian charity and the sense of human solidarity existing between all men, children of the one eternal God and Father." He highlighted immigration's role in alleviating Europe's "saddest human problems," such as the forced displacement of innocent populations, urging policymakers to balance national interests with compassion for the vulnerable.
This theme echoes through subsequent papal magisterium. Pope John Paul II, in Ecclesia in America, described the Church's commitment to immigrants as a "pastoral strategy" that fosters mutual enrichment between newcomers and host communities, defending "the natural right of individual persons to move freely within their own nation and from one nation to another." He stressed attention to migrants' rights and dignity, even in cases of non-legal entry, viewing them as bearers of a "cultural and religious heritage which is rich in Christian elements." Similarly, in a 1990 address in Italy, John Paul II called immigrants "our brothers," demanding they be "understood and accepted" with their identities and rights intact, warning that Christ will judge how they are treated (cf. Mt 25:31-40).
More recently, under Pope Francis and his successor Pope Leo XIV, this teaching has intensified in response to global crises. Pope Francis, in a 2025 letter to U.S. bishops, decried mass deportation programs as damaging to human dignity, noting that they place migrants—often fleeing poverty, violence, persecution, or environmental degradation—in "a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness." He distinguished between legitimate border security and policies that equate irregular migration with criminality, affirming nations' rights to protect communities from serious crimes while rejecting blanket punitive measures.
Pope Leo XIV has continued this emphasis, framing migrants as "missionaries of hope" in his 2025 Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Amid wars, climate crises, and inequalities forcing millions to flee, he portrays their journeys as echoing the Israelites' exodus, sustained by trust in God's protection (cf. Ps 68:7-10; Ps 91:3-6). Migrants, he argues, witness resilience and evangelize host communities through their faith, revitalizing parishes and countering "spiritual desertification." In addresses to Catholic Charities USA and academic gatherings, Leo XIV praised efforts to provide shelter, legal aid, and integration, urging a "culture of reconciliation" to overcome indifference and foster encounters that heal wounds. Even in greeting U.S. labor leaders, he commended their support for immigrants via food pantries and shelters, balancing safety with advocacy for the vulnerable's dignity.
The USCCB synthesizes these teachings in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, mandating Catholics to "welcome the stranger" (Mt 25:35), including unauthorized migrants, refugees, and unaccompanied children. It calls for comprehensive reform: paths to citizenship, family reunification, worker protections, and refuge from persecution, while pursuing border control "in a just and humane manner." Detention should protect public safety, not deter or punish, with alternatives like community programs preferred.
The bishops' opposition to Trump's deportation agenda—envisioning the removal of millions, including long-term residents—stems directly from these principles. In a 2025 letter to Congress critiquing the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," the USCCB condemned its $45 billion surge in detention funding (a 364% increase) and $25 billion for enforcement, warning of "immoral treatment" without safeguards. Provisions for expedited removal of unaccompanied children without counsel, plus fees ($3,500 reimbursement and $5,000 bonds) for family reunification, were decried as barriers that prolong custody and separate families, violating the sanctity of family life.
This aligns with broader Church critiques. Pope Francis's letter invoked Pius XII's Exsul Familia, portraying the Holy Family's flight to Egypt as a model for all migrants, and Fratelli Tutti's call for fraternity amid enmity. Leo XIV, addressing a 2025 conference on refugees, highlighted over 100 million displaced persons and the "globalization of indifference" leading to powerlessness, advocating reconciliation to touch "hearts and minds" rather than entrenching division. Such policies, the Church argues, exacerbate root causes like violence and poverty without addressing them, contradicting the Gospel's demand to see Christ in the migrant (Mt 25:31-46).
John Paul II reinforced this by viewing immigrants as a "precious resource" contributing to national growth and intercultural bonds, cautioning against seeing them as threats that weaken societies. The USCCB's 2018 advocacy for Dreamers—youth brought as children who contribute economically and militarily—urged paths to citizenship without compromising family immigration or child protections, balancing sovereignty with migrants' rights to seek asylum.
While the hierarchy's stance is unified, Catholic voters' support for Trump's policies may arise from legitimate concerns—economic strain, crime fears, or cultural shifts—amplified by media and political rhetoric. Sources like the USCCB's Faithful Citizenship acknowledge nations' rights to secure borders but caution against disproportionate enforcement that harms the vulnerable. Voter divergence could reflect incomplete formation in Catholic social teaching, where immediate community pressures overshadow global solidarity. John Paul II noted immigrants' potential to enrich societies intellectually and religiously, as in America's history, countering narratives of burden.
Pope Leo XIV's messages suggest migrants' hope-filled witness can inspire host communities, turning potential division into evangelization. The Church encourages education to bridge this gap, as in calls for diocesan cooperation and pastoral care to integrate newcomers. Bishops, as shepherds, oppose policies clashing with doctrine, but lay Catholics are invited to form consciences through prayer, study, and encounter.
In summary, Catholic teaching unequivocally opposes mass deportations that undermine dignity, favoring humane reform that welcomes migrants as brothers and sisters while securing borders justly. Papal addresses from Pius XII to Leo XIV, alongside USCCB guidance, portray migration as an opportunity for hope and fraternity, not fear. The voter-bishop divide calls for renewed catechesis, urging Catholics to prioritize Gospel compassion over partisan lines. By embracing migrants' stories—much like the Holy Family's exile—we fulfill Christ's mandate, building a society reflective of God's kingdom.