Florida's Catholic Leaders Ask for a Break in Immigration Actions

Florida's Catholic bishops have a request for President Trump. They want him to take a break from immigration enforcement until after the Christmas holidays. They believe this would show kindness to families affected by these actions. The bishops sent a letter on Monday. It was addressed to both President Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. They expressed concern about the impact of immigration enforcement on families. They argued that now is not the time to ignore the suffering caused by these actions. The White House responded quickly. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson reminded everyone that President Trump was elected on a promise. That promise was to deport immigrants who are considered criminal. She stated that the president is keeping his word. Governor DeSantis' office did not comment immediately. This leaves people wondering about his stance on the issue.President Trump has been very active in immigration enforcement. Over the past year, his administration has focused on apprehending and deporting migrants. The administration claims these migrants are dangerous criminals. However, government data tells a different story. It shows that more people are being arrested for immigration violations alone. Many have not been charged with any other crimes. This raises questions about the administration's targeting criteria. The public seems to be questioning the crackdown as well. Despite this, the administration plans to expand its efforts in the new year. This appeal from Florida's bishops is not their first. Earlier, the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops criticized the administration's immigration policies. They called for meaningful immigration reform. Even Pope Leo has spoken out against the mistreatment of immigrants.