Catholic cardinal calls for defunding 'lawless' ICE

Agence France-Presse·28 January 2026, 4:31 am·1 min read

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Catholic cardinal calls for defunding 'lawless' ICE — (FILES) US Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino (C) stands flanked by fellow federal agents during a protest against ICE outside the Bishop Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 15, 2026. The Department of Homeland Security denied a report on January 26 that US Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino had been removed from his post, despite President Donald Trump reassessing harsh immigration crackdown tactics that led to the deaths of two Americans in Minneapolis. "Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties," DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin posted on X, reiterating the White House messaging that Bovino "is a key part of the President's team and a great American."
Octavio JONES / AFP

A leading US Catholic cardinal has strongly condemned President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and called for defunding the "lawless" federal agency carrying it out.

"If we are serious about putting our faith in action, we need to say 'no,' each one of us," Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, a top ally of Pope Leo XIV, said in an online prayer service Sunday.

In his remarks, which were first reported Monday by the National Catholic Reporter, Tobin referenced the detentions of undocumented migrants and the fatal shootings of two demonstrators by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"We mourn for a world, a country that allows five year olds to be legally kidnapped and protesters to be slaughtered," he said.

Tobin urged Americans to contact their members of Congress and tell them to vote against renewed funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

"Will you ask them, for the love of God and the love of human beings, which can't be separated, vote against renewing funding for such a lawless organization," he said.

The American-born Leo has been a vocal critic of Trump's immigration policies since being elected pontiff in May, calling the treatment of migrants "extremely disrespectful."