Cardinal Cupich Opposes Mass Deportation of Migrants in Chicago

Mexico City, January 20, 2025: Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago expressed strong opposition to potential mass deportations targeting undocumented immigrants in Chicago, a plan reportedly being considered by the new U.S. administration. In a statement released on Sunday from Mexico City, where he is currently on pilgrimage, Cardinal Cupich called such a move “profoundly disturbing.”

“The Catholic community stands with the people of Chicago in speaking out in defence of the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers,” Cardinal Cupich said. “If the reports are true, it should be known that we would oppose any plan that includes a mass deportation of U.S. citizens born of undocumented parents,” he added.

Cardinal Cupich's remarks came on the eve of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has pledged a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration soon after taking office.

In his statement, Cardinal Cupich reminded the public that Chicago is a city that has a long legacy of immigration and owes its vibrancy and diversity to generations of immigrants. “There is not a person in Chicago, save the Indigenous people, who has not benefitted from this legacy,” he added.

He also emphasized the importance of balancing lawful immigration enforcement with the protection of human dignity. “We support the legitimate efforts of law enforcement to protect the safety and security of our communities,” Cupich clarified, stressing that criminal actions by immigrants or U.S. citizens should not be tolerated. At the same time, he also voiced the Church’s strong support for local and state legislation designed to safeguard the rights of immigrants in Illinois.

Expressing firm opposition to reports of deportations involving U.S.-born children of undocumented parents, he stated that such actions would violate fundamental human rights and undermine family unity.

Quoting Pope Francis, Cardinal Cupich urged migration policies that uphold human rights and avoid indiscriminate deportations. “We are quick to forget that we are dealing with people with faces and names,” he said, echoing the Pope’s call to avoid returning individuals to dangerous conditions.

“Millions of migrants flee their homelands for safer shores, precisely because it is a life-or-death issue for them and their children,” he said.

The Cardinal reaffirmed the Catholic Church's commitment to providing safe spaces for worshippers, referring to the Sensitive Locations policy that discourages enforcement actions in churches, schools, and similar sites. He called for a collective examination of conscience, urging faith communities to reflect on their role in protecting vulnerable populations.

Cardinal Cupich’s statement concluded with an appeal for dialogue and for solutions that honour both the rule of law and the dignity of every person:

“People of faith are called to speak for the rights of others and to remind society of its obligation to care for those in need,” Cupich said, before emphasizing that mass deportations would be “an affront to the dignity of all people and a denial of the legacy of what it means to be an American.”

Courtesy: Vatican News