January 28, 2026
Dear Members of the United States Senate,
We write to you as Catholic leaders entrusted with the pastoral care of families and communities across our nation. We do so to express our deep opposition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill scheduled for a vote this week. Our concerns are grounded in the message issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in November, which addressed the vilification of immigrants and expressed clear opposition to indiscriminate mass deportation.
Catholic social teaching affirms that the family is the basic unit of society, willed by God and deserving of protection in law and public policy. Recent immigration enforcement actions carried out under DHS authority have heightened our concern that this fundamental principle is being compromised. In many communities, enforcement practices have resulted in families being separated with little warning or recourse.
Parents have been detained without the opportunity to prepare their children. Spouses have lost partners suddenly and without clarity about what will follow. These realities undermine family stability and inflict lasting harm, particularly on children.
For these reasons, we cannot support legislation that expands or sustains enforcement practices without adequately addressing their consequences for families and communities. A DHS budget that prioritizes detention and removal — while lacking strong safeguards for family unity, due process, and accountability — risks entrenching harm rather than promoting justice or public safety.
Recent responses to peaceful protest and public dissent have only intensified concerns about the disproportionate use of force and the erosion of civil liberties.
We urge Senators not to advance funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection in the current appropriations package.
Congress has demonstrated — through bipartisan collaboration on things like affordable housing and access to essential medications — that it is capable of legislating in ways that strengthen families and serve the common good.
Immigration policy should be guided by the same commitment to human dignity and social stability. In particular, we ask that immigration and enforcement policy be shaped by the following principles:
- that family unity remains a guiding principle of immigration and enforcement policy;
- that all persons be treated with respect and care in recognition of their inherent dignity;
- that alternatives to detention be prioritized whenever possible;
- and that strong oversight, accountability, and restorative mechanisms be in place to prevent abuses that devastate families and communities.
Our faith calls us to recognize Christ in every person; this includes the migrant, the refugee, and the child who bears the pain of separation. To disregard that suffering is to turn away from a core moral responsibility we share as a society.
We pray that your deliberations will be guided by wisdom and restraint. May your decisions reflect a genuine commitment to protecting families, upholding human dignity, and serving the common good.
Respectfully,
Most Rev. John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe
Most Rev. Paul D. Etienne, Archbishop of Seattle
Most Rev. Joseph Tyson, Bishop of Yakima
Most Rev. Michael Pham, Bishop of San Diego
Most Rev. Ramon Bejarano, Bishop-elect of Monterey
Most Rev Oscar Cantú, Bishop of San Jose
Most Rev. Mark Seitz, Bishop of El Paso
Most. Rev. Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu
Most Rev. John Stowe, Bishop of Lexington
Most Rev. Felipe Pulido, Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego
Most Rev. Brian Nunes, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles
Most. Rev. Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, DC
Most Rev. Pedro Bismarck Chau, Auxiliary Bishop of Newark
Most Rev. Elias Lorenzo, OSB, Auxiliary Bishop of Newark
Most Rev. Michael Saporito, Auxiliary Bishop of Newark
Most Rev. Andres Ligot, JCD, Auxiliary Bishop of San Jose
Most Rev. John Ricard, SSJ, Superior General, Saint Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart (The Josephites)
- Rev. Brian Paulson, SJ, President, Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States
- Rev. Sean Carroll, SJ, Provincial, Jesuits West Province
- Rev. Karl J. Kiser, S.J., Provincial, USA Midwest Province of Jesuits
- Rev. Joseph M. O’Keefe, SJ, Provincial, Jesuits East
- Rev. Thomas P. Greene, S.J., Provincial, USA Central and Southern
- Rev. Vien V. Nguyen, SCJ, Provincial, Priests of the Sacred Heart, US Province
Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ, Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Diego, California
Fr. Maurice Nutt, Black Catholic Theological Symposium
Sr. Bethany Welch, SSJ, U.S. Federation of Sisters of Saint Joseph
Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., Homeboy Industries
Fr. Albert Utzig, Regional Director of Columban Fathers, Omaha, NE
Fr. Stephen Newton, CSC, Association of US Catholic Priests, Notre Dame, IN
Fr. Chris Kellerman, SJ, Secretary of Justice and Ecology, Jesuit Conf. of Canada & the US
Sr. Bridget Bearss, RSCJ, Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Sandra Coles-Bell, Executive Director, National Black Sisters Conference, Washington, DC
Sister Eileen Marnien, SSJ, Congregational President, Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia
Daniel Misleh, Exec Dir, Catholic Climate Covenant, Washington, DC
Cecilia Flores, Exec Dir, Catholic Volunteer Network, Frisco TX
Rita Thiron, Exec Dir, Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, Washington, DC
Michele Dunne, OFS, Exec Dir, Franciscan Action Network, Washington DC
Katie Holler, Founder/Organizer, The Dorothea Project, Steubenville OH
Elvira Ramirez, Exec Dir, Maryknoll Lay Missioners, El Paso TX
Kevin Foy, Exec Dir, United States Catholic Mission Association, Munster IN
Kelly Ryan, President, Jesuit Refugee Service USA, Washington DC
Jesuit Volunteer Corps
John Roberto, Exec Dir, NCCL, Cheshire CT
Regina Haney, Exec Dir, National Assn of Church Personnel Administrators, Alexandria VA
Jamie Moloney, Exec Dir, National Association for Lay Ministry, Chicago IL
Francis J Breen, Justice and Peace Coordinator, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Ossining NY
Jean Stokan, Justice Coordinator for Immigration and Nonviolence, The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Silver Spring MD
Christian Bentley, Saint Joseph Catholic Church/The Josephites, Alexandria, VA
Annie Nieto Bailey, President, LaRED – National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana
Jean Hill, Exec Dir, Washington State Catholic Conference, Seattle WA
Julianne Wallace, Executive Director, Franciscan Federation, Philadelphia, PA
Fr. Brendan Busse, Pastor, Dolores Mission, Los Angeles, California
Fr. Patrick Keys, St. Gerard, Lima, Ohio
Fr. Brian Atienza, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Sacramento, California
Fr. Thomas Lucas, SJ, Pastor, St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, Sacramento, California
Fr. Manuel Williams, C.R., Pastor, Resurrection Catholic Mission, Montgomery, Alabama
Fr. Paul Lininger OFM Conv., Washington, DC
Fr. Alex Gaitan, CMF, Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey
Br. Ernest Miller, FSC, St. Francis Xavier, New York, New York
Fr. Jacob Rouse, Pastor, Notre Dame Parish, Cresco, Iowa
Fr. Joey Evangelista, Associate Pastor, Precious Blood & St. Kevin Churches, Los Angeles CA
Sr. Jessica Kerber, A.C.I., Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Louis, Missouri
Sr. Michelle Cimaroli, A.C.I., St. Raphaela Center, Haverford, Pennsylvania
Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Loundonville, NY
Sr. Mary Beth Hamm, SSJ, Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia
Sr. Lucy Slinger, FSPA, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Fr. John Predmore, SJ, The Jesuits at BC High, Boston, Massachusetts
Sr. Honora Nicholson, RSM, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sr. Ann Scholz, SSND, School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Louis, Missouri
Fr. Arthur Mastrolia, Pastor, St. Clare Church, New York, New York
Rev. Nils de Jesus Hernandez, Pastor, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Waterloo, Iowa
Sr. Joy Peterson, Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, Iowa
Sr. Eilis McCulloh, Sisters of the Humility of Mary, Washington, DC
Sr. Taryn RuthStark, RSM, Sisters of Mercy, Omaha, Nebraska
Msgr. Joseph DiSciacca, Canton, Connecticut
Sr. Donna Cicalese, S.S.J., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sr. Jean Ballard, Sisters of St. Benedict, Monastery of the Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand IL
Sr. Chala Marie Hill, FHM, Bronx, New York
Sr. Susan Wells, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, Spokane Valley, Washington
Sr. Asunta Thanh, Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Haverford, PA
Sr. Rose Stietz, Sisters of St. Dominic, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Fr. Edward Steward, Voluntas Dei Institute, Brooklyn, New York
Oanh Vo, Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Wyncote, Pennsylvania
Sr. Barbara Jean Lee, Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, Orange, California
Monsignor Richard Martini, Pastor, St. Joseph Church, Carpinteria, California
Sr. Reina Perea, OP, St. Patrick Church, Los Angeles, California
Sr. Donatella De Marco, Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fr. Dan Noll, Vicar General, Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky
David Romero, SJ, Society of Jesus, Madrid, ESP
Sr. Jeanne Fallon, Sisters of St. Joseph, Orange CA)
Richard G. Malloy, S.J., Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY
Rev. John Dear, The Beatitudes Center, San Luis Obispo, CA
Michelle Lesher SSJ, Sisters of Saint Joseph, Philadelphia, PA
Rev. Gregory Heille, OP, Dominican Friars, St. Louis, MO
Uyen Chi Dang, Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Haverford, PA
Sr. Margaret Ann Bonner, Sisters of St. Joseph, Philadelphia, PA
Fr. Gonzalo de Jesus Torres-Acosta, OFM, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Durham NC
Marian Sturm, Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Victoria, Texas
Fr. Donald LaSalle, The Shrine of Lourdes in Litchfield CT
Noraleen Renauer, Associate Pastor Emeritus, Diocese of Lansing, Michigan
Rev. Martin J. Hebda, Archdiocese of Chicago, Retired
Sister Jacquelyn Doepker, OSF, Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin, OH
Sister Maryann Mueller, Felician Franciscan Sisters, ENFIELD, OH
Sister Laura Bregar, President, Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland Leadership Team, Pepper Pike, OH
Sister Mary Small, Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Jaret Ornelas, Jesuit seminarian, St. Mary of the Angels, Boston, MA
Fr. Fr. Tim Wozniak, St. Thomas Becket, Eagan, MN
Sr. Carol Beevers, Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia, Westmont, NJ
Francis J Breen, Justice and Peace Coordinator, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Ossining, NY
Fr. James Sauer, Catholic Diocese, Evansville, Pastor
Fr. Dale Korogi, Church of the Ascension, Minneapolis, MN
Marilyn Neuman, Providence Assoc., St. Edna Parish, Arlington Heights IL
Vice-Provincial, Joseph Nassal, Sonnino Mission House, Berkeley, CA
Fr. Charles Kullmann, Paulist Fathers, San Diego, CA
Fr. Timothy Kummerer, All Saints Catholic Community, New Riegel, OH
Mary Kay Flannery SSJ, Sisters of St Joseph, Philadelphia, PA
Fr. John Judie, Retired Priest, Association of U. S. Catholic Priests, Louisville KY
Fr. John Heagle, AUSCP, Salem WI
Rev Reed James Falsey, Retired, Anchorage AK
Fr. Carl Scherrer, Immaculate Conception, COLUMBIA, IL
Fr. John Adamski, Catholic Shrine, Atlanta GA
Father James Barry, Retired, Malden, MA
Father Robert Rien, St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church, Antioch CA
Fr. Bob Wenz, Retired priest, Strongsville, OH
Fr. Eugene Schroeder, St. Joseph Parish, Evansville, indiana
Rev. Daniel A St-Laurent, retired, Diocese of Manchester, Manchester NH
Senior Priest Robert Meissner, Retired Saginaw diocesan priest, Bay City MI
Elaine Jahrsdoerfer OP, Sisters of St. Dominic, Amityville NY
Pastor Paul (James) Portland, St. Pius X Parish, Milwaukee, Wi
Fr. Jim Gallagher, Diocese of Richmond
Reverend Eddie Winkler, Queen of the Holy Rosary/Saints Peter & Paul Parishes Hostyn/Plum, La Grange TX
Fr. Ted Cassidy, SM, University of Dayton, Dayton OH
Rev. Robert Reinhartj, AUSCP, Toledo OH
Fr. Bernard Survil, Pax Christi, Jeannette PA
Rev. Adrian Cook, Retired, Alabaster AL
Fr. DUANE PRIBULA, Diocese of Crookston, Moorhead MN
Rev. David Buersmeyer, Strangers No Longer, Detroit MI
Fr. Michael Pucke, St. Julie Billiart Parish, Hamilton OH
Rev. Stephen Blum, St. John the Evangelist, Delphos OH
rev. tuck Grinnell, St. Rose of lima, Annandale VA
Sister Eileen O’Connor, Sisters of Mercy, St. Joseph University Parish, Buffalo NY
Msgr. Charles L Brown III, Retired priest, Association of US Catholic Priests, New Castle DE
Fr. Angelo Arrando, Retired, Fort Myers, CT
Sister Joan Miller, St. Vincent de Paul, Shelbyville IN
Fr. Ron Will, C.PP.S., Missionaries of the Precious Blood, Liberty KS
Fr. Edward Keck, Pax Christi of Stark County, Canton OH
Fr. John Davidson, All Saints Parish, Evansville IN
Fr. Tony Gallagher, retired priest, St. Martin de Porres Parish, Toledo OH
Rev. Robert Ray, Retired pastor, Louisville KY
Father Peter Murray, Society of Jesus at Le Moyne College, Syracuse NY
Rev Thomas Ryan, Immaculate Conception, Syracuse NY
Fr. Richard Notter, Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network, Toledo in America, Toledo OH
Sister Rebecca White, Mount Saint Joseph, Diocese of Owensboro, Maple Mount KY
Fr earl Rohleder, Santa Maria de la Paz parish, Santa Fe NM
Fr. Neil Pezzulo, Glenmary Home Missioners, Blakely GA
Fr. Jim Schexnayder, Our Lady of Lourdes, Oakland CA
Rev. Emil Swiatek, Retired priest, Buffalo, New York
Fr. John Oesterle, Chaplain, Assn of Pittsburgh Priests, Pittsburgh PA
Rev. Vince Burns, Retired, Philadelphia PA
Rev. R. Adam Forno, Retired- Albany, NY