A Defense of Sovereign Borders: Upholding Catholic Teaching in the Face of Political Manipulation

In recent days, Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C., sparked controversy by referring to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies as a "crusade" against undocumented migrants. The word choice was not only incendiary but deeply misleading, reflecting an ideological bias rather than a theologically grounded response. For faithful Catholics—especially conservative ones—this rhetoric represents yet another troubling instance where Church leaders appear to prioritize progressive political talking points over fidelity to doctrine, reason, and the welfare of sovereign nations.

Weaponizing Language: The Cardinal’s Reckless Use of “Crusade”

Cardinal McElroy’s use of the term "crusade" to describe efforts to enforce immigration law is more than just provocative; it is a calculated insult designed to frame immigration reformers as moral villains. The term evokes historical religious warfare, persecution, and fanaticism—all images wholly divorced from the real and pressing concerns of modern immigration policy. By labeling these reforms a "crusade," the Cardinal deliberately conflates law enforcement with religious oppression, a rhetorical sleight-of-hand that trades clarity for demagoguery.

Such language does violence to truth and misleads the faithful. It dismisses the legitimate grievances of communities devastated by illegal immigration: rampant drug trafficking, human smuggling, rising crime, and economic hardship. It also belittles the moral concerns of Catholics who, in good conscience and in line with Church teaching, support a nation’s right to secure its borders. This is not a fringe position—it is Catholic doctrine.

Catholic Doctrine on National Sovereignty and Border Control

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2241) is unequivocal: while it is virtuous for nations to welcome the foreigner in search of security and livelihood, this responsibility is qualified by a nation’s duty to uphold the common good. The Church teaches that governments have the right and obligation to regulate immigration in order to ensure public safety, social cohesion, and economic stability.

This teaching is grounded in centuries of Catholic tradition. Pope Leo XIII, in Immortale Dei, defended the sovereignty of the state and its obligation to act in the interest of its citizens. Likewise, Pope Benedict XVI noted that migration must be managed, not romanticized, acknowledging the challenges it poses to both sending and receiving nations. These teachings reflect a fundamental truth: charity does not negate prudence.

The Moral Imperative: Human Dignity and Order

Support for border enforcement is not a rejection of human dignity—it is a recognition of it. Illegal immigration often exposes vulnerable individuals to unimaginable suffering: women trafficked into sexual slavery, children used as pawns by cartels, families extorted or abandoned in deserts. The chaos of open borders does not uphold dignity; it erodes it.

Cardinal McElroy’s criticism ignores these humanitarian catastrophes. Rather than calling for orderly and just immigration processes, he appears to champion a permissive stance that emboldens criminal networks and undermines the rule of law. This is a dereliction of pastoral duty, prioritizing emotional appeal over moral clarity.

The Dangers of Open Borders and Unregulated Immigration

Open borders are not a moral imperative. They are an ideological position with dangerous consequences. Unregulated immigration strains public resources, overwhelms schools and hospitals, and displaces low-income workers—often minorities—from jobs and housing. It invites security risks, from gang violence to terrorism. And it erodes the trust between citizens and their government, feeding political instability and civil unrest.

Faithful Catholics understand that compassion must be tempered by realism. As Pope Francis has noted, "Welcoming should be accompanied by integration." That integration becomes impossible without order, legality, and mutual responsibility. To conflate responsible immigration enforcement with xenophobia or racism is not only false—it is unjust.

A Stark Warning from Europe: Culture and Security at Risk

The United States need only look across the Atlantic to see the consequences of unchecked illegal immigration. In countries like Germany, Sweden, and France, waves of mass migration over the past decade have significantly altered the social and cultural landscape. In many European cities, parallel societies have emerged where assimilation has failed and local laws are disregarded. Crime rates in some of these areas have spiked, including violent assaults and sexual crimes, prompting public outcry and growing distrust in both governmental and ecclesial leadership.

European leaders, much like Cardinal McElroy, initially embraced open-border policies under the banner of compassion. But the long-term results have revealed a tragic irony: instead of integrating newcomers into a cohesive society, the lack of regulation and foresight has bred alienation, conflict, and a dilution of the cultural and religious identity that once unified those nations.

Contrast this with the American experience, where despite its flaws, there remains an enduring ideal of integration rooted in shared values, legal structure, and civic identity. But even this model is now under stress due to the unprecedented surge in illegal crossings, overwhelmed border agents, and the strain on public institutions. The lesson is clear: without prudent governance, America risks repeating Europe's mistakes.

A Call for Truth and Leadership

Cardinal McElroy’s rhetoric is not prophetic; it is political. It diminishes the authority of the episcopacy when Church leaders engage in partisan denunciations while ignoring the Catechism and the social teachings they are charged to uphold. If the Church is to speak credibly in the public square, its leaders must resist the temptation to echo secular ideologies and instead reclaim their role as stewards of both truth and tradition.

In the final analysis, President Trump’s immigration reforms are not a "crusade" against the poor. They are a response—however imperfect—to a broken and dangerous system. They affirm the right of the United States to protect its borders, uphold its laws, and serve the common good of its citizens. This is not an act of hatred, but of governance. And far from being anathema to Catholic teaching, it is consonant with it.

To remain silent while a Prince of the Church engages in such misleading and destructive rhetoric would be an abdication of our duty as lay faithful. We must speak the truth in charity but also with clarity and conviction. The integrity of both our Church and our country depends on it.