U.S. Bishops' President Archbishop Coakley - in Letter Implores President Trump to Cease Deportation of People from Haiti
.png)
United States Catholic Conference of Bishops' (USCCB) President Archbishop Paul S. Coakley appeals to President Donald J. Trump to temporarily halt deportations to Haiti by granting Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to peaceful Haitian residents. Writing with deep pastoral concern following a deadly gang attack on a church shelter in Port-au-Prince, yet acknowledging the administration's duty to enforce federal immigration law, Coakley stresses that forcibly returning individuals to an unstable, violent environment puts innocent lives at risk and undermines core American principles regarding the inherent right to life. He highlights the significant economic and social contributions of Haitian immigrants—particularly in sectors like healthcare—and notes that DED preserves public safety by allowing case-by-case disqualifications for bad actors. Ultimately, the Archbishop urges the administration to leverage America's influence for humanitarian good, offering the Catholic Church's continued prayers and partnership toward long-term immigration reform and Haiti's stabilization.
FULL TEXT Letter:
Dear Mr. President:
I write with deep pastoral concern in relation to the growing number of Haitians being
forcibly repatriated to Haiti from the United States and to humbly request your assistance.
Recently, at least 47 people were brutally murdered, more than 20 injured, and over 50
kidnapped in an unconscionable act of violence perpetrated by gang members in Port-auPrince. Perhaps worst of all, the victims were displaced families – young children among them
– taking shelter at a church. Together with our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, my brother bishops
and I express our spiritual closeness with the victims and pray for the swift release of all
hostages.
As citizens of this great country, we have been entrusted with a tremendous moral
responsibility, and this is true most of all for you as our head of state, Mr. President. To this
end, I respectfully ask: What good is the immense wealth, prosperity, and influence with which
we have been blessed as a nation if not used in service of our humanity?
I recognize, as I expressed when we met earlier this year, the importance of regulating
immigration and enforcing federal immigration law. I also acknowledge that the troubles in
Haiti long precede your time in office, in addition to being complex and multifaceted. At the
same time, I know you understand the essential role the United States plays in promoting the
inherent value of human life.
In this 250th year of American independence, we are reminded of our country’s
humble, yet idealistic and inspired, beginnings. Among those ideals has always been, no matter
where we are born, the belief that people are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable
rights. I urge you today, Mr. President, to uphold these fundamental rights, with the right to
life being chief among them.
I very much wish this recent and tragic example of human life being extinguished,
virtually with impunity, was an irregularity in Haiti. Unfortunately, it is not. I implore you to
avoid further endangering innocent human life by ceasing the deportation of large numbers of
people to Haiti at this time, particularly while there is not an adequate system in place to
provide for their safe and orderly reception and reintegration. The current approach will only
contribute to the country’s already deepening crisis, undermining your own strategic objectives
for the Western Hemisphere.
Please exercise your authority under the U.S. Constitution to provide deferred enforced
departure for Haitians peacefully residing in the United States.
Of course, individual Haitians could still be disqualified from this relief on a case-bycase basis, preserving your Administration’s ability to advance justice and public safety.
Simultaneously, you would be recognizing the significant economic and social contributions
made by so many of these men and women, including in critical areas such as health care. The
Catholic Church is also sensitive to the ways many families, especially mixed-status families,
would benefit from this relief. The strength of our communities depends, in large part, on the
well-being of such families.
Beyond this short-term relief, you can be assured of the U.S. bishops’ abiding support
and prayers for the long-overdue reform of our nation’s immigration laws. We pledge to
continue working with your Administration and Congress to achieve this for the benefit of our
country and all Americans. At the same time, the Church will continue doing her part, in
coordination with the U.S. and Haitian governments, to accompany the people of Haiti, through
spiritual and corporal works of mercy, as they seek to build a safer and more stable country
that allows for integral human development.
I sincerely thank you, Mr. President, for your consideration of this request. Please
continue to count on my prayers for you and your Administration.
As always, I remain, respectfully in Christ,
The Most Reverend Paul S. Coakley
Archbishop of Oklahoma City
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
CC: The Honorable Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
The Honorable Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security
I write with deep pastoral concern in relation to the growing number of Haitians being
forcibly repatriated to Haiti from the United States and to humbly request your assistance.
Recently, at least 47 people were brutally murdered, more than 20 injured, and over 50
kidnapped in an unconscionable act of violence perpetrated by gang members in Port-auPrince. Perhaps worst of all, the victims were displaced families – young children among them
– taking shelter at a church. Together with our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, my brother bishops
and I express our spiritual closeness with the victims and pray for the swift release of all
hostages.
As citizens of this great country, we have been entrusted with a tremendous moral
responsibility, and this is true most of all for you as our head of state, Mr. President. To this
end, I respectfully ask: What good is the immense wealth, prosperity, and influence with which
we have been blessed as a nation if not used in service of our humanity?
I recognize, as I expressed when we met earlier this year, the importance of regulating
immigration and enforcing federal immigration law. I also acknowledge that the troubles in
Haiti long precede your time in office, in addition to being complex and multifaceted. At the
same time, I know you understand the essential role the United States plays in promoting the
inherent value of human life.
In this 250th year of American independence, we are reminded of our country’s
humble, yet idealistic and inspired, beginnings. Among those ideals has always been, no matter
where we are born, the belief that people are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable
rights. I urge you today, Mr. President, to uphold these fundamental rights, with the right to
life being chief among them.
I very much wish this recent and tragic example of human life being extinguished,
virtually with impunity, was an irregularity in Haiti. Unfortunately, it is not. I implore you to
avoid further endangering innocent human life by ceasing the deportation of large numbers of
people to Haiti at this time, particularly while there is not an adequate system in place to
provide for their safe and orderly reception and reintegration. The current approach will only
contribute to the country’s already deepening crisis, undermining your own strategic objectives
for the Western Hemisphere.
Please exercise your authority under the U.S. Constitution to provide deferred enforced
departure for Haitians peacefully residing in the United States.
Of course, individual Haitians could still be disqualified from this relief on a case-bycase basis, preserving your Administration’s ability to advance justice and public safety.
Simultaneously, you would be recognizing the significant economic and social contributions
made by so many of these men and women, including in critical areas such as health care. The
Catholic Church is also sensitive to the ways many families, especially mixed-status families,
would benefit from this relief. The strength of our communities depends, in large part, on the
well-being of such families.
Beyond this short-term relief, you can be assured of the U.S. bishops’ abiding support
and prayers for the long-overdue reform of our nation’s immigration laws. We pledge to
continue working with your Administration and Congress to achieve this for the benefit of our
country and all Americans. At the same time, the Church will continue doing her part, in
coordination with the U.S. and Haitian governments, to accompany the people of Haiti, through
spiritual and corporal works of mercy, as they seek to build a safer and more stable country
that allows for integral human development.
I sincerely thank you, Mr. President, for your consideration of this request. Please
continue to count on my prayers for you and your Administration.
As always, I remain, respectfully in Christ,
The Most Reverend Paul S. Coakley
Archbishop of Oklahoma City
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
CC: The Honorable Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
The Honorable Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security
Source: https://www.usccb.org/resources/Letter%20to%20President%20Donald%20J.%20Trump%20Regarding%20Haitians.pdf
Comments