Washington Roundup: Senate passes DHS funding package; Mullin confirmed as secretary
The U.S. Senate passed a funding package for most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on March 27, excluding funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol due to ongoing negotiations. Markwayne Mullin was confirmed by the Senate on March 23 to serve as the Secretary of Homeland Security. Mullin's confirmation vote was 54-45, with two Democrats supporting him and one Republican opposing him. Mullin stated his immediate priority as DHS Secretary is securing funding for the department so that employees in its 22 agencies can receive paychecks. Polls indicated that most Americans disapprove of U.S. military action in Iran, which President Trump reportedly wants to conclude.
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Markwayne Mullin was confirmed by the Senate on March 23 in a 54-45 vote to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with cross-party votes from Sens. Fetterman and Heinrich supporting, and Sen. Rand Paul opposing.1
Sworn in on March 24 by Attorney General Pam Bondi, Mullin replaces Kristi Noem and prioritizes funding the department amid its lapse.1
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Alan S. Armstrong to temporarily fill Mullin's Senate seat.1
The Senate passed a DHS funding bill early March 27, covering most agencies like TSA and Coast Guard but excluding ICE and Border Patrol due to unresolved reform negotiations.1
The bill followed weeks of gridlock, with House passage and Trump's signature uncertain; Speaker Mike Johnson planned GOP meetings to decide next steps.1
Funding lapse has caused TSA chaos, with long airport lines and staff working without pay.1
Negotiations stem from January's partial shutdown end and deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents, prompting calls for constraints.1
Catholic immigration advocates seek policy changes post-Noem.1
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer noted the bill avoids a "blank check" for enforcement.1
Polls show majority disapproval of U.S. military action in Iran: AP-NORC (59% say gone too far) and Fox News (58% oppose).1
Trump paused strikes on Iranian energy plants for 10 days amid talks; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed continued pressure.1
Pope Leo XIV called for a Middle East ceasefire.1
In a podcast, Barrett discussed "pressure" from 2017 confirmation scrutiny, including Sen. Feinstein's "dogma lives loudly" remark.1
She viewed it as a humility-building opportunity despite untrue claims about her faith.1
Assess Catholic teachings on state responsibility for immigrant protection
Catholic teachings emphasize that political authorities bear a moral responsibility to protect immigrants, rooted in the dignity of every human person as created in God's image. Prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome foreigners seeking security and livelihood unavailable in their homelands, while balancing this duty with the common good, border sovereignty, and orderly integration. This assessment draws from magisterial documents, highlighting a nuanced framework that rejects both unrestricted open borders and harsh exclusion, calling instead for equitable policies, international solidarity, and respect for human rights.
Catholic social doctrine affirms a natural right to migrate when necessary for survival, placing a corresponding duty on receiving states to safeguard immigrants' dignity and basic needs. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states explicitly:
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.
This obligation stems from the universal destination of goods and solidarity, as echoed in Fratelli Tutti: migrations represent an opportunity for enrichment, and states must avoid a "loss of that sense of responsibility for our brothers and sisters," instead finding a "right balance between its twofold moral responsibility to protect the rights of its citizens and to assure assistance and acceptance to migrants." Pope John Paul II in Sollicitudo Rei Socialis extends this to international relations, urging richer nations to exercise "moral responsibility for the other nations" through solidarity, transforming interdependence into mutual support for the vulnerable.
States must prevent exploitation, ensuring immigrants receive fair treatment: "Institutions in host countries must keep careful watch to prevent the spread of the temptation to exploit foreign labourers, denying them the same rights enjoyed by nationals."
While welcoming is mandatory, it is not absolute. Authorities may impose "various juridical conditions" for immigration to serve the common good, such as duties of immigrants to respect the host country's heritage, obey laws, and share civic burdens. The Catechism underscores:
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.
This sovereignty includes border control: "Catholic social teaching on migration recognizes and respects the sovereignty of each nation to regulate its borders," balanced against migrants' rights. Fratelli Tutti critiques extreme positions, like populist regimes preventing influx "at all costs" or limiting aid to force austerity, as these overlook lives at stake from war, persecution, or poverty. The USCCB affirms no advocacy for "open borders" but opposes "enforcement-only" approaches prioritizing deterrence over humane protections.
States hold particular duties toward vulnerable groups:
Ecclesia in Europa calls on states and European institutions to "grant refugee status to those who have left their country of origin because of threats to their life" and defend immigrants' fundamental rights. Comprehensive reform is urged, including legalization paths, work programs, and root-cause addressing.
No state acts alone; migration demands "global governance" through mid- and long-term planning, effective integration aid, and solidarity-inspired policies not imposing alien ideologies. The Catechism notes the common good of humanity requires international organization. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis invokes a "social mortgage" on goods, prioritizing the poor—including migrants—while affirming private property's social function.
Catholic teachings assign states a dual responsibility: protect immigrants' dignity through welcome, aid, and rights (proportionate to capacity), while safeguarding the common good via regulated borders and integration. This fosters fraternity, rejecting dehumanization. Nuances arise in application—e.g., balancing sovereignty with charity—but higher magisterial sources like the Catechism and encyclicals prioritize human dignity as non-negotiable.