IMMIGRATION/POPE FRANCIS: “Pope Francis urged political leaders on Monday [8-21-17] to defend migrants, saying their safety should take precedence over national security concerns and that they should not be subjected to collective deportations.
His challenge to politicians, made in a comprehensive position paper on migrants and refugees, again appeared to put him at odds with the restrictive policies of a number of governments dealing with growing popular anti-immigrant sentiment…
This appeared to be a reference to fears voiced in many European countries that refugees inflows could lead to security problems in their host countries. He said it was necessary ‘to ensure that agents in charge of border control are properly trained.’
He called for ‘alternative solutions to detention’ for illegal immigrants and said ‘collective and arbitrary expulsions of migrants and refugees are not suitable solutions’.
Francis said migrants should be seen as ‘a true resource for the communities that welcome them’ and be given freedom of movement, access to means of communication, access to justice and everyday rights such as opening a bank account.
Francis, an Argentine who has made defense of migrants a major plank of his papacy, has criticized anti-immigrant stands by national leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump. Last year, Francis condemned then-candidate Trump’s intention to build a wall on the border with Mexico.”
-Philip Pullella, “Pope says migrants’ rights should override national security concerns,” Reuters, Aug. 21, 2017 08:06am