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Herald Malaysia
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
US bishops warn immigration raids spread fear, harm dignity
The prelates voiced profound concern in a reflection ahead of its weeklong retreat in California Jun 17, 2025 Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of the Military Services, smiles during an interview at the chapel on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 26, 2015. (Photo: UCAN Files) By Gina Christian, OSV News "No one can turn a deaf ear to the palpable cries of anxiety and fear heard in communities throughout the country in the wake of a surge in immigration enforcement actions," said the leader of the nation's Catholic bishops in a June 16 statement that assured all impacted of their shepherds' support. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the US military archdiocese, the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a reflection ahead of the USCCB's weeklong retreat in California, a triennial gathering that this year replaces the bishops' usual spring plenary session. The archbishop said the occasion of the bishops' gathering seemed "appropriate to give voice to a profound concern in the hearts of the Shepherds of the Church in our Country" over the Trump administration's immigration policies. While he commended law enforcement actions "aimed at preserving order and ensuring community security" as "necessary for the common good," Archbishop Broglio said, "The current efforts go well beyond those with criminal histories." Following through on a campaign pledge, President Donald Trump has cracked down on immigration to the US. Among the administration's efforts are terminating protected status for migrants from several conflict-wrought nations, fully or partly banning travel to the US from several nations, ordering Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to meet daily arrest quotas of 3,000, halting visa interviews for foreign students, attempting to end birthright citizenship and deporting persons without permanent legal status in the US to third countries in defiance of court orders. While the administration claims to target criminal actors in its sweeps, several high-profile arrests and deportations have impacted individuals with no demonstrated criminal record. Some 44 percent of the more than 51,000 in ICE detention facilities as of June 1 are estimated to have no criminal record, other than entering the US without permission, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. The USCCB and Catholic Charities USA are among some 200 non-governmental organizations named in a congressional probe for allegedly aiding immigrants its leaders call "inadmissible aliens" during former President Joe Biden's administration. "In the context of a gravely deficient immigration system, the mass arrest and removal of our neighbors, friends and family members on the basis of immigration status alone, particularly in ways that are arbitrary or without due process, represent a profound social crisis before which no person of good will can remain silent," said Archbishop Broglio. "The situation is far from the communion of life and love to which this nation of immigrants should strive." He pointed to Pope Leo XIV's recent video address to the young people of Chicago and the world -- in which, said Archbishop Broglio, the pope "reminded us that at the heart of the Christian faith is an invitation to share in the communion of life and love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the first community and based completely on love." "The Holy Father also challenged us to be a sign of hope by making the world a better place," said Archbishop Broglio. The archbishop noted the backlash sparked by Trump administration policies on immigration. "The many actions of protest throughout the country reflect the moral sentiments of many Americans that enforcement alone cannot be the solution to addressing our nation's immigration challenges," he said. "While protest and dissent can be a legitimate expression of democratic participation, violence is never acceptable," Archbishop Broglio stressed. At the same time, he observed that injustice can be a trigger for conflict, quoting Pope Francis' encyclical "Evangelii Gaudium": "Without equal opportunities the different forms of aggression and conflict will find a fertile terrain for growth and eventually explode." Archbishop Broglio said that "the chronic lack of opportunities for legal status for our immigrant brothers and sisters, together with the growing denial of due process to them, is injurious to human dignity and is a considerable factor in the breakdown of the rule of law." He added, "Likewise, unfounded accusations against Catholic service providers, who every day endeavor to provide critical support and care to the most vulnerable, contribute to societal tensions and a growing climate of fear." Speaking on behalf of the nation's bishops, Archbishop Broglio said, "I want to assure all of those affected by actions which tear at the fabric of our communities of the solidarity of your pastors. "As your shepherds, your fear echoes in our hearts and we make your pain our own. Count on the commitment of all of us to stand with you in this challenging hour," he said. He also acknowledged "those in our Catholic service and community organizations working to promote the common good by binding up the wounds of the afflicted." Archbishop Broglio assured "those motivated by the urgency of the current moment to work for just and humane solutions to these immigration challenges" of "the cooperation and goodwill of the Catholic Bishops of our country."--
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pete Hegseth sets speedy timeline to jettison transgender troops from military
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is setting up a fast timeline for transgender troops to get the boot from the military. He has directed the department to start moving out transgender members of the military as early as next month. Transgender active service members can 'separate voluntarily' until June 6 and could be eligible for voluntary separation pay. The deadline is July 7 for reserve members. Hegseth set out his timeline in a two-page memo dated May 8 and referenced President Donald Trump's executive order to remove transgender troops. 'Service by individuals with a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibiting symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria is not in the best interest of the Military Services and is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security,' Hegseth said in the memo. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that 1,000 troops who have already self-identified 'will begin the voluntary separation process.' A Biden-era order that allowed transgender members to serve in the military was revoked by Trump when he entered office in January. The aggressive policy was pursued by Hegseth at the Pentagon, but lawsuits followed. The Supreme Court gave the go-ahead on Tuesday for the Trump administration to enforce the ban while legal challenges against the policy continue. Hegseth boasted it was a 'victory' for Trump in a video message on X Thursday that he captioned: 'TRANS is out at the DOD.' 'This is the president's agenda, this is what the American people voted for, and we're going to continue to relentlessly pursue it,' Hegseth said. The Supreme Court ruling is a 'devastating blow to transgender service members who have demonstrated their capabilities and commitment to our nation's defense,' said a statement from Lambda Legal and Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which sued to block the policy on behalf of a group of trans service members.' By 'allowing this discriminatory ban to take effect while our challenge continues, the Court has temporarily sanctioned a policy that has nothing to do with military readiness and everything to do with prejudice,' the groups added. 'Transgender individuals meet the same standards and demonstrate the same values as all who serve. We remain steadfast in our belief that this ban violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection and will ultimately be struck down.'
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pentagon plans to discharge transgender soldiers
Feb. 27 (UPI) -- All current transgender service members will be separated from the U.S. military, according to a Pentagon memo made public in a lawsuit challenging a President Donald Trump executive order banning transgender Americans from the armed forces. The memo states that American soldiers diagnosed with, have a history of or exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria "will be processed for separation from military service." "Service by these individuals is not in the best interests of the Military Services and is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security," the document states. Those whose military service is of a "compelling Government interest" that "supports warfighting capabilities" and adhere to all "standards associated with the applicant's sex" may be considered for a waiver, it states. Also eligible for potential exemption are soldiers who demonstrate 36 consecutive months of "stability in service member's sex" without distress or impairment, show they have never attempted to transition and are willing to adhere to all applicable standards. The memo, which is from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, directs senior Pentagon leadership, combatant command commanders and others to establish procedures and steps within 30 days to identify transgender service members. They will be honorably discharged except in cases where their record warrants a lower characterization, it said. The memo states that this policy of the U.S. government is to establish the highest standards for the military, in terms of readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty and integrity, among other characteristics, and that policy is inconsistent with "the medical, surgical and mental health constraints" of those who suffer from gender dysphoria. The memo was made public in a lawsuit brought by GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights on behalf of six transgender service members and two seeking to enlist, challenging Trump's Jan. 27 executive order banning transgender Americans from serving in the U.S. military. The executive order bans transgender service members by stating they are incompatible with active duty. "Military service demands one thing: the ability to do the job," Shannon Minter, legal director at NCLR, said in a statement announcing their lawsuit against the executive order on Feb. 3. "Transgender service members consistently meet and exceed military standards. Those willing to risk their lives in service deserve our respect, not a discriminatory ban that ignores their proven capabilities."
