DHS chief pushes for more immigration enforcement funds, as US bishops urge key reforms
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on June 2, backing a $72 billion immigration enforcement package. The package follows a stalled attempt by former President Trump to attach a $1.8 billion weaponization fund to the bill. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a June 1 letter urging senators to add reforms that protect migrants’ dignity, including preventing family separation and safeguarding religious rights in detention. The bishops also called for reinstating restrictions on enforcement at houses of worship and supported the Religious Workforce Protection Act to ease immigration limits for foreign religious workers.
4 months ago
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued a coordinated set of immigration‑policy requests to Congress while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeks a large increase in enforcement funding. The bishops’ “wish list” emphasizes humanitarian protections, religious‑worker visas and limits on detention, whereas DHS officials are pushing a $72 billion enforcement package and a $118.4 billion DHS budget for FY 2027. Both sides are influencing pending legislation and appropriations hearings. 1 2 3 4 5
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, urging approval of an additional $72 billion for immigration enforcement after a prior $1.8 billion “weaponization” add‑on stalled the bill 1.
Mullin defended the agency’s limited activity at “sensitive locations” such as churches and schools, arguing that ICE only intervenes when a felon is present 1.
He also threatened to withdraw Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in jurisdictions deemed “sanctuary cities,” a move that could disrupt tourism and the upcoming World Cup 1.
The House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 175 (Deport Alien Gang Members Act) on June 3, which would make non‑citizens “reason to believe” gang members deportable 5.
Bishop Brendan J. Cahill warned that the low evidentiary threshold could sweep up religious workers, victims of gangs, and Catholics serving migrants, violating due process and family unity 5.
Both Democratic and Republican committee leaders noted existing immigration statutes already cover gang‑related removals, questioning the need for the new bill 5.
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How should the Catholic Church guide U.S. immigration policy?
The Church’s guidance for U.S. immigration policy can be summarized in a single moral logic: human persons have equal dignity and a natural right to seek the security and livelihood they cannot find at home, but the state also has a legitimate duty to govern and protect the common good, including by regulating borders—always with justice, charity, and respect for human rights.
Catholic social teaching begins with the fact that migrants are not merely “cases” or “numbers,” but people created in God’s image with equal dignity.
The Catechism teaches that “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,” and that public authorities must ensure the guest is protected.
Pope Francis likewise describes migrants as a “particular challenge” that calls for a generous openness and integration that overcomes “mistrust.”
The Church affirms that governments may set conditions on immigration “for the sake of the common good,” including requirements related to immigrants’ duties to their country of adoption (e.g., obedience to law and civic responsibilities).
U.S. Catholic bishops explicitly state that the Church “affirms the rule of law, encourages the use of lawful immigration pathways, and discourages migration simply for the purpose of advancing one’s individual position without regard for the common good in one’s country of origin.”
But the Church also insists this border-right is not unlimited; it must be balanced with charity and respect for human persons and their rights, including life.
Catholic teaching supports border security and recognizes that nations can and should take measures against irregular immigration—with due respect for the human rights of all.
At the same time, Catholic leaders argue against an “enforcement-only approach” that relies mainly on deterrence and penalties, because such an approach tends to:
Consistently, the U.S. bishops call for reforms that provide “orderly and reliable processing,” and that prioritize integration, expanded legal pathways, family unity, and due process.
They also caution that legislative efforts should preserve the sanctity of families and the protection of unaccompanied children.
The Church distinguishes between different forms of migration and highlights the special case of refugees and asylum seekers (those “forced migrants”), where ordinary legal channels may not be available due to danger.
The bishops state that “the element of persecution, threat or danger… gives rise to a human right to seek protection through irregular means, rather than migrating through ordinary channels.”
Catholic social teaching also calls nations to respond to the “miseries of refugees” and to assist migrants’ families, because the universal common good requires it.
Immigration policy should not end at entry; it must support human flourishing and social inclusion.
The Catechism emphasizes that access to employment and professions must be open “without unjust discrimination,” including for “natives and immigrants.”
In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis connects human dignity and development to concrete social goods, especially access to employment, education, and healthcare—things that help people build a stable life rather than remain trapped in vulnerability.
A distinctive Catholic emphasis is the sanctity of families and the moral harm caused by policies that produce prolonged separation or indefinite uncertainty.
The U.S. bishops urge reforms that “preserve due process protections for newcomers” and protect asylum access.
They also argue that policies increasing enforcement and detention—especially family detention—and limiting safeguards risk “the immoral treatment of individuals and families alike.”
Drawing these together, the Church’s guidance for U.S. immigration policy includes these policy principles:
Catholic guidance is not only about voting preferences; it is also about service and advocacy.
The U.S. bishops describe a long-standing Church commitment to welcome and integrate immigrants, and they emphasize that Catholic ministries provide humanitarian help and legal assistance consistent with the Church’s mission (not to enable harm, but to assist lawful compliance and protection needs).
Pope John Paul II also urged that immigration policy be pursued “according to Christian principles” to promote equality and justice for all people in immigration policy matters.
Finally, Pope Leo XIV, in a message to labor leaders, encouraged advocacy that communities “respect the human dignity of the most vulnerable,” while noting that appropriate policies are needed for safety.
The Catholic Church should guide U.S. immigration policy by insisting on three linked commitments: (1) welcome and protection grounded in equal human dignity and the natural right to seek safety and livelihood, (2) a legitimate, regulated border policy pursued for the common good with proportionality and due process, and (3) integration through concrete access to work, family unity, and humanitarian protections—especially for refugees and asylum seekers.