The White House rejected a request from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops to suspend immigration operations during the Christmas holidays. The request was made in a letter addressed to President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis, signed by the Archbishop of Miami and seven other prelates.
The federal government’s response was communicated on Monday, December 22, 2025, by presidential spokesperson Abigail Jackson. The Florida bishops requested a humanitarian pause in immigration raids and deportations.
They argued that a ceasefire during Christmas would allow migrant families to stay together and celebrate without fear. The petition was based on the belief that the initial phase of deporting dangerous criminals was largely completed.
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Complaint process and content of the petition
Archbishop Thomas Wenski, leader of the Florida bishops, stated that the current approach to immigration enforcement affects people with no criminal record. He noted that a climate of fear harms not only undocumented immigrants but also their relatives with legal status in the country.
The letter from the Florida bishops indicated that current raids mostly capture workers, not criminals. The Florida bishops emphasized that a Christmas truce would show respect for the humanity of migrant families.
The request echoed previous statements by Pope Leo XIV, who advocated for humane treatment of migrants. Wenski has also highlighted on other occasions the economic contributions of immigrants in key sectors of Florida and the country. The call from the Florida bishops came in a year of tightening federal immigration policies.
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Basis for the truce request
The Florida bishops based their petition on data showing a change in the profile of those detained for immigration violations. Official statistics indicate that arrests of people with no criminal record increased significantly in 2025.
The Florida bishops mentioned that a significant majority of those detained in Florida facilities lack a criminal history. Therefore, they considered a Christmas pause an appropriate humanitarian measure.
White House rejects Florida bishops’ request for Christmas
The White House responded that operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement would continue as normal. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated that President Trump is fulfilling his promise to deport illegal immigrants with criminal records.
The response did not specifically address the Christmas period or the humanitarian arguments presented by the Florida bishops. The refusal is part of broader immigration policies implemented during 2025. The government revoked protections that limited operations in sensitive locations and canceled programs like Temporary Protected Status for certain countries.
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It also suspended the processing of residency and asylum applications for citizens of nations considered of concern. The administration maintains these measures are necessary for national security.
Next steps and consequences
The federal government announced no changes to its immigration law enforcement strategy following the refusal. Spokesperson Jackson reaffirmed the commitment to continue deportations as planned.
The operations include sending federal agents to various cities for detentions and deportations. For their part, the Florida bishops and the USA Conference of Catholic Bishops have made institutional decisions in response to these policies.
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They announced they will not renew cooperation agreements with the federal government for refugee resettlement programs and children’s services. This decision responds to the administration’s prior suspension of these agreements.
The rejection of the Christmas truce requested by the Florida bishops reflects a firm government stance on immigration. While federal authorities prioritize strict law enforcement, Florida’s religious leaders maintain their defense of a more humanitarian approach. This episode underscores the profound divergence in handling immigration during Christmas and in the immediate future.
