Border czar Tom Homan delivered a pointed rebuke to the Catholic Church this week, arguing that its opposition to immigration enforcement fundamentally undermines the rule of law and ultimately costs American lives.
“The Catholic Church is wrong,” Homan stated plainly during remarks at the White House on Friday. “I’m sorry. I’m a lifelong Catholic. I’m saying it not only as a border czar — I’ll say it as a Catholic. They need to spend time fixing the Catholic Church, in my opinion.”
The comments came in response to questions about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which issued a statement this week condemning the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations. The bishops warned of “a climate of fear and anxiety” surrounding deportation efforts.
Here are the facts that matter: The Catholic Church’s position on immigration enforcement represents a fundamental misunderstanding of both law and morality. Homan’s argument rests on a simple logical foundation. The United States has immigration laws. Those laws exist for specific reasons, including national security, public safety, and the protection of American workers. When those laws go unenforced, consequences follow.
The border czar has consistently maintained that proper enforcement actually saves lives by disrupting human trafficking networks, preventing drug smuggling operations, and deterring dangerous illegal border crossings. This is not conjecture. The data supports it. When border security weakens, cartel violence increases, human smuggling operations flourish, and migrants die attempting dangerous crossings.
The Catholic bishops’ position, while perhaps well-intentioned from a humanitarian perspective, ignores these realities. It also raises a critical question: Why should religious institutions advocate for the selective non-enforcement of federal law? The Church would presumably not support ignoring laws against theft or assault based on compassionate grounds. Immigration law deserves the same respect.
Homan’s status as a practicing Catholic adds weight to his criticism. This is not an outsider attacking the Church. This is a member of the faithful pointing out that the institutional Church has lost its way on this issue. His suggestion that the bishops focus on “fixing the Catholic Church” likely references the numerous internal scandals and crises that have plagued the institution in recent years.
The broader principle at stake extends beyond immigration. When influential institutions advocate for ignoring duly enacted laws, they undermine the entire framework of civil society. The proper remedy for unjust laws is legislative change, not selective enforcement based on emotional appeals.
The Trump administration has made border security and immigration enforcement central priorities. The bishops’ opposition represents yet another example of establishment institutions resisting common-sense policies that protect American citizens. Their statement about “fear and anxiety” ignores the fear and anxiety experienced by American communities dealing with the consequences of illegal immigration, including crime, drug trafficking, and strain on public resources.
Homan’s willingness to confront the Catholic Church on this matter demonstrates the administration’s commitment to enforcement regardless of political pressure from traditionally influential institutions. The question is not whether immigration enforcement creates discomfort. The question is whether the United States remains a nation of laws. Homan has answered that question clearly. The Catholic bishops should reconsider their position accordingly.
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