Archbishop Naumann weighs in on need to solve current immigration, refugee challenges

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 7, 2025 / 16:30 pm (CNA).

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, is the latest among prelates throughout the country who are weighing in with Catholic perspectives on setting aright the country’s dysfunctional immigration system.

In a Feb. 7 op-ed published in his archdiocesan newspaper, Naumann began by echoing the commitment he and his fellow bishops in Kansas made in a joint Nov. 28, 2024, statement to serve migrants in the state “no matter what the future holds.” 

Naumann noted that “the Church does not have the authority or the responsibility to determine the legal status of those living in the United States” but does have “an obligation to care for every person with respect and love, no matter their citizenship status.”

At the same time, the Kansas City archbishop offered a full-throated endorsement of prioritizing public safety threats in immigration enforcement. 

“Allowing violent gangs, individuals with serious criminal histories, dealers of lethal illegal drugs, human traffickers, and those who pose threats to our national security to enter our country and harm U.S. citizens is a serious dereliction of duty by our elected leaders,” Naumann said. “I commend President [Donald] Trump and those in his administration for addressing this serious, national threat.”

Naumann went on to fault the Biden administration for its handling of the unprecedented wave of unaccompanied minors it allowed to enter the country.

“It is inconceivable that our previous administration either did not know or care about the location or the circumstances of approximately 300,000 children and youth who entered the United States during the past four years,” Naumann declared. “I salute President Trump and his administration for making it a priority to find these lost children and youth.”

“At the same time, the vast majority of those who entered our country illegally are not gang members, criminals, drug dealers, human traffickers, or terrorists posing a threat to our national security,“ Naumann continued.

The archbishop suggested that with strong border security, provisions should be made for “the millions who entered our country illegally but have not committed any other crime and are working hard, raising families, and contributing to the welfare of society.”

“If President Trump is able to shut down the border successfully, making illegal entry into our country virtually impossible, does it not make more sense to create a pathway for the undocumented to be able to earn legal status?” the archbishop argued. “If those who entered the nation illegally paid significant fines in reparation, why not allow them to receive at least a type of legal status? If not citizenship, perhaps work permits?”

Naumannn also made the case for beginning immigration reform with “Dreamers,” adults who as children were brought to the United States by their parents. “Maybe providing lasting, legal status for the Dreamers could be the place to begin the reform of our immigration policy,” he specified.

In closing, Naumann said: “I would love to have the opportunity to have a conversation with President Trump and/or Vice President [JD] Vance about immigration and refugee resettlement policies.”

“I would treasure the opportunity to make the case for how generous policies for worker permits and legal immigration could be important ingredients in helping make America great again!” he said.

Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262093/archbishop-naumann-weighs-in-on-need-to-solve-current-immigration-refugee-challenges