The faith leaders, who hail from across the country and represent a range of religious traditions, deployed to neighborhoods with significant immigrant populations, where DHS agents have been most active.,The faith leaders, who hail from across the country and represent a range of religious traditions, deployed to neighborhoods with significant immigrant populations, where DHS agents have been most active.
about 1 month ago
Hundreds of clergy gathered in Minneapolis to monitor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities amid rising tensions over immigration raids.1
Thousands rallied on January 23 in downtown Minneapolis against the Trump administration's aggressive enforcement, braving subzero temperatures.2
About 100 clergy were arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for trespassing and disrupting operations beyond their permit area.2
They received misdemeanor citations and were released, protesting deportation flights and urging airlines to halt cooperation.2
Protests have occurred daily in the Twin Cities since January 7, following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer.2
Labor unions, progressive groups, and faith leaders called for boycotts of work, school, and shops across Minnesota.2
Rev. Mariah Furness Tollgaard of Hamline Church stayed for arrest to support fearful migrant congregants, later planning a prayer vigil.2
Rev. Elizabeth Barish Browne from Wyoming called the enforcement "immoral," dismissing the cold as secondary to the "ice" of injustice.2
Over 700 businesses closed statewide in support, including the Guthrie Theater and a bookstore in Grand Marais.2
Organizers like Kate Havelin of Indivisible Twin Cities hailed it as a historic achievement involving over 100 groups.2
Catholic clergy’s protest against immigration enforcement
The Catholic Church affirms nations' sovereign right to secure their borders while insisting that immigration enforcement must respect human dignity, protect vulnerable migrants, and promote family unity. Clergy protests against certain immigration enforcement measures align with longstanding U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) advocacy, which critiques overly punitive policies that prioritize deterrence over humanitarian protections. This balanced approach, rooted in documents like Strangers No Longer and papal teachings, supports proportional security measures but opposes those that undermine asylum access, family reunification, or services to newcomers.
Catholic social teaching recognizes a country's right "to take measures against irregular immigration, with due respect for the human rights of all." The USCCB does not oppose all border security efforts; it has endorsed bipartisan legislation like the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, which combined enforcement resources with legalization paths and legal immigration expansions. These bills included "increased resources for enforcement efforts and new penalties for violations of immigration law," balanced against protections for long-term residents.
Protests by clergy often target "enforcement-only" approaches that emphasize "deterrence and unjust penalties" without addressing root causes or providing viable solutions. For instance, the USCCB has cautioned against legislation introducing "unrelated, unnecessary, or controversial elements of immigration policy—especially those that jeopardize the sanctity of families or unaccompanied children." In 2023, bishops urged Congress to reject provisions from the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2) in funding bills, arguing they would "severely weaken humanitarian protections long enshrined in U.S. and international law." Such advocacy reflects clergy's public witness against policies that contradict the Gospel mandate to welcome the stranger (Mt 25:35).
Catholic clergy and organizations provide essential aid—meals, shelter, medical care, legal orientation, and sacraments—to migrants, including those at the U.S.-Mexico border, in compliance with civil law. This ministry does not encourage irregular migration but responds to human needs, as "the local Church, wherever located along a person’s journey, treats newcomers with love and respect, in accordance with God’s law (Leviticus 19:34)." Protests arise when enforcement penalizes these efforts, such as proposed laws restricting Church services while failing to "meaningfully address security or sustainably limit migration."
The USCCB prioritizes protections for vulnerable groups like Dreamers, unaccompanied children, asylum seekers, and trafficking victims. For Dreamers, bishops call for a citizenship path, family sanctity, and "proportional and humanely implemented" security with training and oversight. On unaccompanied children, USCCB/Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) expresses concerns over forms that could facilitate detention or deportation, potentially violating the Flores Settlement and harming mental health. They advocate ending family detention and strengthening due process. Recent letters support funding to enforce child labor laws and protect migrant children from exploitation.
Clergy protests frequently highlight threats to asylum and due process. The USCCB opposes rules altering "credible fear" screenings, which could create "impossible standards" and cut off life-saving protections, contrary to the right to seek asylum from violence. Bishops endorse expanding legal pathways, work authorization for asylum seekers (e.g., H.R. 1325/S. 255), and addressing migration root causes like poverty and conflict. Pope Francis's call for employment as an "indispensable step" in integration underscores this, reducing exploitation risks.
In legislative priorities, bishops affirm the "natural right to migrate, balanced with the right of countries to maintain their borders," urging infrastructure for humanitarian needs and policies promoting integration. They support bills like the Afghan Adjustment Act and Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
While immigration divides politically, the Church's position remains consistent: security yes, but not at humanity's expense. Sources show no support for "open borders" but firm opposition to measures reducing protections. Recent USCCB letters (2023-2024) prioritize migrant children and asylum amid backlogs and labor shortages. Clergy protests embody this, protesting inhumane enforcement while upholding law.
In summary, Catholic clergy's protests against immigration enforcement critique imbalances that harm the vulnerable, echoing USCCB calls for reform integrating security, dignity, and justice. This advocacy promotes comprehensive solutions faithful to Christ’s command to welcome the stranger.