The Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, on Monday urged U.S. President Donald Trump to temporarily halt migrant deportations during the Christmas season in order to prevent family separations and reduce emotional harm to children.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Miami, Wenski emphasized that a short suspension of deportation operations would allow families to remain together during a time traditionally associated with unity and compassion. “A temporary pause in mass deportations would allow families to stay together during Christmas and avoid unnecessary trauma to children,” the archbishop said.
Wenski was joined by other religious leaders from the Miami area, who issued a joint statement supporting the request. The statement argued that the initial phase of immigration enforcement—focused on identifying and removing dangerous criminals—has largely been completed. As a result, ongoing raids are now affecting a majority of individuals who do not pose a threat to public safety.
According to the religious leaders, a significant portion of migrants currently detained at the facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz” do not have criminal records. They contended that this reality challenges the narrative that current enforcement efforts are primarily targeting violent or high-risk individuals.
The leaders also warned that the Trump administration’s immigration policies have created a climate of fear and anxiety that extends beyond undocumented migrants. They noted that even individuals with legal immigration status have reported heightened stress, uncertainty, and concern for their families amid intensified enforcement actions.
