Archbishop laments 'fear and anxiety' raised by deportation efforts

After months of demonstrations and public arguments over the U.S. government’s deportation program, the role of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and whether the president can call in federal forces to Portland despite local objections, Archbishop Alexander K. Sample released a statement of concern on Nov. 8.

“My heart is heavy because of the continued fear and anxiety that runs through the community of our Hispanic brothers and sisters in this archdiocese,” he said. “We are doing all that we can to alleviate this suffering.” 

“It does not matter whether some of our brothers and sisters have proper documentation or not,” Sample said. “They are our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ and have a human dignity that comes not from government but from our loving God.”

Sample is attending the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore.  The National Catholic Reporter published a story on Sample’s statement; the entire statement appears on the archdiocesan website is posted on selected social media platforms.