White House rejects Florida Catholic bishops’ call for Christmas immigration enforcement pause
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, writing for the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and joined by seven other prelates, asked President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis to pause immigration apprehensions and round‑ups over Christmas, arguing DHS data show hundreds of thousands deported this year, many detainees at the Everglades "Alligator Alcatraz" are non‑criminal or legally present, and a holiday pause would ease fear among families. The White House, via spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, rejected the plea — saying enforcement will continue because the president was elected to deport “criminal illegal aliens” — while the Vatican has signaled growing church concern by appointing pro‑immigration Rev. Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez to the Palm Beach diocese.
📌 Key Facts
- Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, on behalf of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and signed by seven other members, sent a formal appeal to President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis requesting a pause in immigration apprehension and round‑up operations during the Christmas season.
- Wenski's letter argued that the border has been secured, cited DHS data saying more than 500,000 people have been deported this year and nearly two million have voluntarily self‑deported, and asserted that the 'initial work' of targeting dangerous criminals has largely been accomplished.
- The bishops warned that 'maximum enforcement' now sweeps up many non‑criminals — including people 'just here to work' — and said many detainees at the Everglades detention center known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' have no criminal background and that enforcement sweeps sometimes catch people with legal authorization.
- Wenski tied the request to widespread fear and anxiety among undocumented migrants and their legally present family members, saying a holiday pause would show 'decent regard for the humanity of these families.'
- The White House, via spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, rebuffed the appeal, saying immigration enforcement would continue 'business as usual' and emphasizing that 'President Trump was elected based on his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens. And he’s keeping that promise.'
- Wenski has a record of migrant advocacy, including prior criticism of Trump administration policies at a Georgetown University panel and ministry work with detainees at the Everglades facility through a program called 'Knights on Bikes.'
- Separately, Pope Leo XIV appointed Rev. Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez — pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows in Queens and a supporter of immigrant rights — as bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach (which includes Mar‑a‑Lago); Rodríguez has said he praised Trump’s overall leadership but wants to 'help' on immigration and argued enforcement should not focus on deporting young children who have not committed crimes.
📊 Relevant Data
As of November 30, 2025, 73.6% of individuals held in ICE detention (48,377 out of 65,735) have no criminal conviction.
Immigration Detention Quick Facts — TRAC Reports
Immigrants in Florida contribute more than $33 billion to the economy annually through their wages and pay over $7 billion in combined federal, state, and local taxes.
Undocumented immigrants in Florida pay $1.8 billion in state and local taxes annually, with 57.5% of these taxes coming from sales and excise taxes.
Undocumented Immigrants Pay $1.8 Billion in Florida Taxes a Year, National Study Finds — Florida Policy Institute
Immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than the U.S.-born population, based on research at national, state, and local levels from 2020 onward.
Explainer: Immigrants and Crime in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Between 2010 and 2022, the share of Florida's population that is Hispanic/Latino increased by 4.5 percentage points to 27.1%.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished national origins quotas, leading to increased immigration from non-European countries.
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 — Wikipedia
Fear of deportation among immigrant communities is associated with increased depression, anxiety, stress, somatic symptoms, and low self-esteem.
U.S. immigration policy: Mental health impacts of increased enforcement — American Psychological Association
Immigrants in Florida are 22.1% of the state's residents, and 10.3% of U.S.-born residents in Florida live with at least one immigrant parent.
Immigrants in Florida — American Immigration Council
📊 Analysis & Commentary (3)
"A short, moral‑tone plea urging the administration to accept a narrowly tailored Christmas pause in immigration enforcement—criticizing the White House rejection and arguing compassion and limited safeguards make the pause both humane and practicable."
"Bishop Robert Barron argues that Revelation 12 offers a fourth, apocalyptic Christmas story that reframes the Nativity as the start of a cosmic struggle between God and evil, and he warns against sentimentalizing or politicizing Christmas without attending to its deeper, spiritual meaning."
"A City Journal opinion piece likening the White House to Dickens’s Scrooge criticizes its refusal to grant a Christmas pause on immigration enforcement and argues for a narrowly tailored, humane holiday accommodation."
📰 Sources (4)
- Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, on behalf of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, sent a formal appeal to President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis requesting a pause in immigration apprehension and round‑up operations during the Christmas season.
- Wenski’s letter cited DHS data that over 500,000 people have been deported this year and nearly two million have voluntarily self‑deported, arguing that the 'initial work' of targeting dangerous criminals has largely been accomplished.
- He asserted that a significant majority of detainees in the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility in the Florida Everglades have no criminal background and that enforcement sweeps sometimes catch people with legal authorization.
- The White House, via spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, responded that immigration enforcement would continue 'business as usual,' emphasizing that Trump is keeping his promise to deport 'criminal illegal aliens' and declining to grant a Christmas pause.
- Wenski tied the request to widespread fear and anxiety among undocumented migrants and legally present family members, arguing that a holiday pause would show 'decent regard for the humanity of these families.'
- Pope Leo XIV appointed Rev. Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows in Queens and a supporter of immigrant rights, as bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida, which includes President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
- In an AP interview, Rodríguez praised Trump’s overall leadership but said he wants to 'help' the president on immigration policy and argued that enforcement should not focus on deporting young children who have not committed crimes.
- The article reiterates key language from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ November 'special message' on immigration about balancing border regulation with respect for immigrants’ human dignity.
- Details that the appeal was issued by Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski and signed by seven other members of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops.
- Direct quotations from Wenski’s letter asserting that 'the border has been secured' and that 'maximum enforcement' now sweeps up many non‑criminals who are 'just here to work.'
- Explicit wording of White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson’s email response emphasizing that 'President Trump was elected based on his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens. And he’s keeping that promise.'
- Additional context on Wenski’s broader migrant advocacy, including his prior criticism of Trump policies at a Georgetown University panel and his 'Knights on Bikes' ministry work with detainees at the Everglades detention center ('Alligator Alcatraz').