Vice President JD Vance criticized the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for its condemnation of the Trump administration’s recent immigration policies, suggesting the Church might prioritize “their bottom line” over humanitarian concerns.
In his first interview since taking office on January 20, Vance appeared on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” to discuss the administration’s actions, including a series of immigration orders aimed at fulfilling President Trump’s campaign promises.
One of these orders, issued shortly after the inauguration, rescinded a policy prohibiting U.S. immigration agents from making arrests at schools, places of worship, and other “sensitive locations.” Vance defended the measure, saying it and other actions empower “law enforcement to enforce the law everywhere, to protect Americans.”
The administration’s aggressive stance on immigration included issuing approximately 200 executive actions in its initial days, such as denying birthright citizenship to children of unauthorized immigrants and temporary visa holders—a measure likely to face legal challenges. Other orders, including changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies, may also be contested in court.
The decision to revoke the “sensitive locations” policy drew sharp criticism from the USCCB. Mark J. Seitz, chairman of the bishops’ migration committee, told CBS News, “Many of these policies we see going against the basic tenets of our faith.”
Vance, a practicing Catholic, expressed disappointment with the bishops’ position. “As a practicing Catholic, I was actually heartbroken by that statement,” he said, adding that the USCCB has “not been a good partner in common-sense immigration enforcement that the American people voted for.”
When Brennan asked whether Vance supported immigration agents conducting enforcement actions in churches and schools, he responded, “I support us doing law enforcement against violent criminals, whether they’re illegal immigrants or anybody else, in a way that keeps us safe.”
Vance went on to question the motivations of the bishops, suggesting financial interests may play a role. “The bishops received over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants,” he noted. “I hope, as a devout Catholic, that they’ll do better.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, the USCCB defended its work, stating, “Faithful to the teaching of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church has a long history of serving refugees.” The statement explained that the partnership with the federal government began in 1980 with the creation of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
“Every person resettled through USRAP is vetted and approved for the program by the federal government while outside of the United States,” the statement continued. “In our agreements with the government, the USCCB receives funds to do this work; however, these funds are not sufficient to cover the entire cost of these programs. Nonetheless, this remains a work of mercy and ministry of the Church.”
Many refugee resettlement agencies are faith-based organizations. However, following President Trump’s indefinite pause on refugee admissions, several of these groups were informed on Friday that some of their federal funding would be suspended.
The Trump administration has also moved to enlist military aid in border enforcement through an emergency declaration, expand detention facilities for deportees, and increase agreements with local law enforcement authorities.
