Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune of Charleston, one of the nation’s more than 30 immigrant Catholic prelates, has issued a pastoral letter on immigration amid growing deportation efforts among Republicans empowered by President Donald Trump.
The Haitian-born bishop, a member of the Scalabrinian Order—which serves migrants and refugees—published his letter on Feb. 7, calling for an embrace of human dignity and expressing gratitude for immigrants in South Carolina.
“The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that Catholic teaching does not support an open border policy in this modern world,” he wrote.
“However, the Catechism does emphasize a commonsense approach where the duty to care for the stranger is practiced in harmony with the duty to care for the nation.”
Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, has released a heartfelt pastoral statement addressing immigration and emphasizing compassion for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
— Diocese of Charleston (@DioceseChas) February 7, 2025
Read his full statement here: https://t.co/wuvxjKm8dh. pic.twitter.com/iJDpckXNhh
The letter comes as Republicans in South Carolina—and across the nation—have pledged support for federal plans to deport non-citizens deemed to be criminals, which the White House has suggested includes anyone residing in the country without documentation.
South Carolina’s GOP governor, Henry McMaster, said in January that his administration will do “whatever [they’re] asked to do” as it concerns assisting raids carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Just one day before Fabre-Jeune’s letter, the state’s Attorney General Alan Wilson, also a Republican, threatened prosecution of pro-immigration advocates deemed to be obstructing deportations.
In his letter, Fabre-Jeune noted that “every country has the right to protect and maintain its borders,” but emphasized the more merciful stance of Pope Francis, who this week directly criticized the GOP’s anti-immigration stance in a letter addressed to the U.S. Catholic bishops.
“Pope Francis encourages us to participate in Christian charity through welcoming, protecting and accompanying,” wrote Fabre-Jeune prior to the pope’s letter.
“We will continue to accompany them along the faithful way, as Christ accompanies us on our journey through this life.”
The actions of the Trump White House just three weeks into his second administration have resulted in widespread human rights concerns—including the effective suspension of the right to asylum in the U.S., the unlawful detainment of American citizens, and renewed family separations.
A sweeping federal funding freeze has also halted much of the immigrant support work by NGOs in the United States, including religious groups such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Charities, and Catholic Relief Services. As of Tuesday evening, none of the three organizations have joined lawsuits challenging the halt in financial support, which has resulted in mass layoffs.
On Tuesday, following the Holy Father’s letter, USCCB president Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Services responded with a statement affirming human dignity while mincing words on politics.
Broglio, writing “on behalf of the bishops in the United States,” made no mention of specific legislators or the pope’s criticisms, instead focusing on the pontiff’s support of USCCB immigration advocacy—now kneecapped by the White House.
Only one sentence in the archbishop's letter mentions the cause of Pope Francis’ letter: the current U.S. government, which Broglio says should “keep its prior commitments to help those in desperate need.”
“As we struggle to continue our care for the needy in our midst and the desire to improve the situation in those places from which immigrants come to our shores, we are ever mindful that in them we see the Face of Christ,” wrote Broglio, adding a request for spiritual support from the Holy Father.
“I ask for your continued prayers so that we may find the courage as a nation to build a more humane system of immigration, one that protects our communities while safeguarding the dignity of all.”
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
