Illegal migrants will no longer take refuge in churches or another “special places” from migrant officials in the United States. The Department of National safety (DHS) has just repealed the 2011 guidelines, extended for Biden, which required that immigration and Customs Force (ICE) agents get approval from a superior before arresting people close "special places", including churches, hospitals or schools run by clergy.
The Catholic News Agency recalls that the policy of "special places" began in 2011. The erstwhile manager of ICE John Morton in his memo prohibited subordinate agents from carrying out enforcement activities in places specified as hospitals, places of worship, school or during events specified as weddings or parades, unless there is an urgent request to detain a individual who is simply a direct safety threat or agents have sought prior authorisation for specified activities.
The extended definition of "special places" appeared behind the erstwhile Biden-Harris administration. national migrant officials could not keep illegal visitors in playgrounds, homeless shelters, emergency consequence centres and shelters for victims of home violence.
The current order, abolishing erstwhile policy, signed the acting Secretary of National safety Benjamine Huffman. Then, after approval, Kristi Noem is to take over this function.
– This action gives brave men and women of CBP [Customs and Border Protection] and ICE the chance to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminals – including murderers and rapists – who have illegally arrived in our country – announced January 21 DHS spokesman.
He added that "criminals will no longer be able to hide in American schools and churches to avoid arrest"; "the Trump administration will no longer tie hands with courageous law enforcement officers and alternatively trust that they will apply common sense."
The change of policy in this area was already known in December last year. On the day of his oath to President, Donald Trump signed a number of executive decrees on migration, including the previously announced law on closing the border for asylum seekers and carrying out mass deportations of illegal arrivals.
This is powerfully opposed by the Catholic Church in the US and another spiritual communities, recognising the plan to fight illegal immigrants as "unfair".
In December, the Catholic bishops of Arizona opposed plans to change their policies on "sensitive places", suggesting that raids on churches would violate fundamental human rights, including spiritual freedom and the right to household unity, and undermine social stability.
Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC) appointed by bishops in 1988 to support immigration programmes stated that it was "deeply afraid about any changes that could undermine the safety and well-being of immigrants and their families".
– Special places – specified as prayer houses, schools and hospitals – are sanctuaries where people search comfort, education and care, without fear of intimidation or detention said Anna Gallagher, Executive manager of CLINIC in a message to the CNA.
"This policy has long recognised the importance of these spaces for building trust and stableness in the community. Its repeal would not only disrupt the lives of families and communities, but could besides discourage them from utilizing basic services specified as: education and wellness care or to freely practice their faith... We call for protection in delicate places to guarantee that immigrants and their families can live without fear and satisfy basic needs, including the practice of religion," CLINIC called for.
The American episcopate criticised not only the migration policy of the fresh administration, but besides the withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement on Climate.
The fresh president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States Archbishop Timothy Broglio says that all these decisions can harm “the most susceptible among us”.
He praised the confirmation of biological fact that there were only 2 sexes. At the same time, he pointed out that the Catholic Church and the Episcopate were not linked to “no political party”. The teachings of the Church “are unchanged”, regardless of political leadership.
The episcopal chief promised that the bishops would pray that "as a nation endowed with many gifts, our actions will show genuine concern for our most vulnerable: sisters and brothers, including unborn, poor, aged and sick, as well as migrants and refugees."
In early January, Pope Francis condemned Trump's plans for mass deportations, saying, “If that is true, it is simply a disgrace.”
The Catholic Church in the United States has long been active in a number of aid schemes for migrants.
Source: catholicnewsagency.com
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