Senior Catholic leaders in Florida have made a direct appeal to US President Donald Trump, urging him to suspend aggressive immigration enforcement activities throughout the Christmas period.
A Humanitarian Appeal for the Holidays
In a letter sent on Monday, 22 December 2025, the bishops addressed both President Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. They argued that a temporary pause in operations would demonstrate "a decent regard for the humanity of these families." The bishops' statement emphasised that the festive season was "not the time to be callous toward the suffering caused by immigration enforcement."
The White House response was swift and firm. On Tuesday, spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated, "President Trump was elected based on his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens. And he’s keeping that promise." A spokesperson for Governor DeSantis did not provide an immediate comment on the request.
An Intensifying Enforcement Campaign
This plea comes against the backdrop of a year-long, hardline immigration campaign by the Trump administration. Key policy shifts have included:
- Rescinding protections that limited arrests near sensitive locations like churches, hospitals, and schools.
- Deploying federal agents nationwide to intensify deportation operations.
While the administration maintains it is targeting dangerous criminals, official data reveals a significant trend: a marked increase in arrests of individuals whose sole alleged offence is an immigration violation. This pattern represents a departure from the enforcement approaches of previous administrations.
Growing Ecclesiastical Criticism
The Florida bishops' intervention is not an isolated act of clerical concern. It follows a rare condemnation issued over a month ago by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which criticised the administration's crackdown and called for meaningful reform.
This growing clerical dissent was further underscored in October when Pope Leo publicly decried the mistreatment of migrants, adding a powerful global voice to the debate. Despite this mounting criticism, reports suggest the Trump administration plans to expand its immigration enforcement efforts in the new year.
