On Wednesday, October 1st, the White House defended the Trump administration’s migration policy after U.S.–born Pope Leo XIV criticized the “inhuman” treatment of migrants in the country.
Pope Leo said
Someone who says “I’m against abortion, but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the U.S.,” I don’t know if that’s pro–life.
Chicago-born Leo added that someone who is anti–abortion but supports the death penalty–which remains legal in many states–was also “not really pro–life.”
The pontiff’s comments came in response to reporters’ questions about the Chicago Archdiocese’s plan to give a lifetime achievement award to Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who supports abortion rights and represents Leo’s home state of Illinois.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected the pope’s criticisms when asked to respond to them on Wednesday. She rejected the claim that there is “inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the U.S. under this administration.”
Leavitt also criticized former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, stating
This administration is trying to enforce our nation’s laws in the most humane way possible, and we are upholding the law. We are doing that on behalf of the people of our country who live here.
