Following Pope Leo XIV’s remarks on Oct. 23 defending the rights of migrants, America’s editors published an editorial arguing that “Safe Borders Do Not Require Terror Tactics From ICE.” We decried the cruelty of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, from the “creation of true hellholes like the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility” to “completely unnecessary violations of human dignity and American law” in federal agents’ enforcement actions. Our readers had much to say in response. 

Editorials in magazines read by progressive Catholics are, unfortunately, doing very little to make an impact on what’s happening in our country. I would like to see more of the action that Jesus called for, the kind of dangerous action that gets people in trouble when they stand up for their morals. I have been to some of the “No Kings” rallies, and I’ve been afraid in a way that I never thought I would be afraid in America. But that fear should be an impetus, and it should be clarifying. I hope our bishops and our leaders begin to join those who are already going to migrant detention centers, showing up at rallies and speaking out as individuals.
Carolyn Gorman

Your editorial admirably addresses the present cruelty of immigration enforcement. What we need now, and have needed for many years, is a process for those undocumented individuals who have contributed to our society for many years that will give them legal status (or citizenship) without requiring that they leave their family and business to self-deport.
Philip Crosby

We have a reservoir of many millions of able-bodied adults who are not currently working. If there are so many jobs to be done that we must permit a huge influx of foreign nationals of modest education and skill, Americans should be doing these jobs instead. Long gone are the days of Ellis Island. We neither need nor can we afford to keep the same kind of immigration policy we had in 1890.
Matthew K.

The heartless, soulless, unconscionable and unnecessary actions [of this administration] demonstrate a level of heartlessness that is incomprehensible to me. The lack of humanity and decency that is on display has left me in a state of despair for this country. God help all of us.
David Bowditch

A self-deportation policy is impossible for a family who has been here for years, is of mixed status, whose children are American citizens, who have been wonderful contributing members of our communities, and who have paid taxes and worshiped in our churches. As followers of Jesus, we must put compassion above the law. If we Americans have the brain power and resources to send people into space and create massively expensive atomic bombs, can we not secure our borders and create a compassionate path to citizenship for our sisters and brothers who are here?
Alice Bradley

Reading a recent report on the torture and sexual assault endured by Venezuelan deportees who were sent by this administration to [the CECOT prison in El Salvador] was horrifying. Due process is an American value. Treating other humans, including immigrants, with dignity and care is a Christian value. The current immigration enforcement policies reflect neither set of values.
D. R. Martin

This administration’s violent crackdown has less to do with immigration and more to do with terrorizing people, citizens and non-citizens alike, and with showing their supposed power, which is just tough-guy posturing. Sadly, one of our political parties, along with certain Catholic leaders, supports this.
Daniel Lamoureux

I am disappointed that the editors did not seem to criticize the effectively open-border policy of President Biden that let in millions of undocumented immigrants to the United States. I support amending our immigration policy, including significantly increasing the number of immigrants that are allowed to enter into the United States each year, and also dramatically increasing [the number of] immigration judges to speed claims of asylum. I support reasonable methods of arresting and deporting criminals who enter the United States illegally. I would like to read a more balanced editorial on this subject.
Michael Barberi

This article appears in January 2026.