Karoline Leavitt Affirms Administration’s Illegal Immigration Stance Amid Recent Clergy Arrests
In response to growing questions surrounding recent arrests of clergy members by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the Trump administration’s stand based on our nation’s laws around illegal immigration.
“The administration has always maintained the position that anyone who illegally crosses our nation’s borders is subject to deportation,” stated Leavitt this morning. “That’s just the law of the land, and we must be a nation that enforces our laws.”
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While not directly naming the religious leaders who were detained, Leavitt emphasized that immigration law must be applied equally. “This president has been consistent from the start: our borders are not open to illegal entry, regardless of background or occupation,” she said.
The remarks come after a lawsuit from religious leaders and immigrant advocacy groups, who argue that clergy performing humanitarian work should be offered some protections under federal law.
Leavitt reiterated that President Trump supports legal immigration and is actively working to improve the immigration system, but said the law of the land has to be implemented.
“But the priority from ICE, of course, is to deport, detain, arrest, and remove violent illegal aliens and criminals from our country. And they have been doing that at the rate of thousands every single week — especially in Democrat-run sanctuary cities, where these individuals have essentially been immune from our nation’s laws under the previous administration.”
The administration has not indicated that special provisions will be considered for faith leaders or humanitarian volunteers caught in enforcement actions. However, Leavitt suggested that future discussions may be held with congressional leaders on how to improve the system without creating loopholes.
“We are going to be a nation of laws. And as we’ve said repeatedly: if you came here illegally, you are subject to deportation. But the priority is those public safety threats that we must remove from our communities.”
