New Mexico Bishops Come Out Strongly Against Mass Deportations, by Jonah McKeown

By Jonah McKeown, CNA, Dec. 6, 2024

Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.

CNA Staff, Dec 6, 2024 / 09:25 am – The Catholic bishops of New Mexico this week articulated a strongly worded statement against a policy of mass deportation of unauthorized immigrants, a policy that President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to enact.

“A mass deportation policy will not fix the broken immigration system but, rather, create chaos, family separation, and the traumatization of children,” wrote Archbishop John Wester of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Bishop Peter Baldacchino of the Diocese of Las Cruces, and Bishop James Wall of the Diocese of Gallup in a statement reported on by the Santa Fe New Mexican.

“While removing those who cause harm to us is necessary, deporting immigrants who have built equities in our communities and pose no threat is contrary to humanitarian principles and to our national interest,” the bishops continued. ….