The Catholic bishops of Kansas issued a joint pastoral letter on August 14, 2025, urging compassion and humane treatment for immigrants and migrants as Kansas lawmakers press for tougher enforcement that mirrors policies backed by President Trump. The letter calls for public officials to recognize the dignity of every person, use legal discretion to avoid harm, and stop actions that “betray the values of our nation and the Gospel,” including “unnecessary raids, mass detentions, and family separations.”
Signed by Archbishop W. Shawn McKnight of Kansas City, Bishop Carl A. Kemme of Wichita, and Bishop Gerald L. Vincke of Salina, the pastoral letter argues that safety and border control can be upheld without treating entire groups as criminals.
“Treating all migrants and refugees as if they were violent criminals is simply unjust. They are human beings made in God’s image: mothers, fathers, children, and grandparents, motivated not by malice but by a desire for safety, stability, and the chance to provide for their families,” the bishops wrote.
The message arrives amid a tense moment in Kansas, where some legislators are urging closer alignment with stricter federal policies and tougher state cooperation with immigration enforcement.
Discretion, Safety, and the Law
The bishops stress that their call does not remove the need for public safety. Instead, they ask leaders to use the tools already in law to reduce harm to families and communities.
They request that immigration officers, police, and prosecutors exercise discretion—deciding case by case when to arrest, detain, or seek removal, and when to allow people to stay with their families while cases move forward. Federal policy allows such discretion, and the Department of Homeland Security describes how it sets enforcement priorities. Readers can review DHS guidance here: https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-enforcement-priorities.
Local Effects: Fear and Parish Response
Local priests report rising fear among immigrants—both those without status and those with legal papers—because broad enforcement sweeps sometimes touch people who were not the original targets.
- Some parishioners have stopped attending public gatherings and even Mass, worried that a routine trip could put a relative at risk.
- This anxiety has led to lower church attendance in some areas and increased requests for counseling, food support, and referrals to legal aid.
Diocesan staff say parish life is changing immediately: more phone calls asking what to do if a loved one is detained, how to prepare safety plans for children, and where to find trusted legal help.
Concrete Calls to Parish Communities
The pastoral letter asks parish communities to show concrete kindness.
“Working migrants, those volunteering in our parishes, paying taxes, sacrificing for their families and following our laws, deserve not fear and intimidation but protection, solidarity and a welcoming community,” the bishops wrote.
Practical parish actions encouraged in the letter include:
- Setting aside rooms for support groups.
- Inviting local legal aid groups to hold clinics after Mass.
- Training ushers and volunteers to answer basic questions and direct people to help.
- Checking in with families through schools and youth ministries to ensure children do not miss classes out of fear.
- Posting diocesan resources and trusted legal contacts in bulletins.
Parish bulletins also advise families to:
- Keep copies of key documents.
- List emergency contacts.
- Make childcare plans in case a parent is detained.
- Avoid notarios who promise quick fixes.
For broad background and community education, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants site offers guides and updates at justiceforimmigrants.org.
National Context and Analysis
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the Kansas statement fits a national pattern of church leaders urging Congress to pass broad immigration changes while asking local and federal officers to reduce harm under existing law.
While national reform remains stalled, the bishops’ move highlights what can be done now:
- Use discretion in enforcement.
- Avoid wide raids that pull in bystanders.
- Keep families intact where possible.
The bishops’ appeal responds to policy talk in the Kansas Capitol, where some lawmakers favor more frequent enforcement actions and tighter ties between state and federal authorities. Supporters of tougher enforcement say it is needed for public safety. The bishops respond by saying safety and compassion can stand together—they do not ask officers to ignore the law, but to apply it with care and mercy, especially when children and longtime residents would suffer.
Key Messages from the Letter
The bishops’ main points are simple and direct:
- Every person has dignity, no matter their passport or status.
- The country has a right to manage its borders and enforce laws, but that duty must be carried out with compassion so families are not torn apart without need.
- Local communities—schools, churches, health clinics—should not become places of fear.
- Lawmakers should aim for reform that balances order with mercy.
They emphasize measured steps such as:
- Targeted enforcement against real threats.
- Routine use of discretion for workers with community ties and no criminal history.
- A ban on tactics that sow fear without clear public-safety gain.
Human Impact: Mixed-Status Families and Community Trust
In interviews and parish meetings, priests describe mixed-status families—where a U.S.-born child or a lawful permanent resident parent lives with a spouse who lacks papers. A sudden detention can:
- Split a home.
- Leave a child without a caregiver.
- Push a family into crisis.
The pastoral letter urges officers to weigh those harms when making enforcement decisions.
The bishops argue that many immigrants in parish pews are integrated into Kansas life—working in food processing, construction, health care, and service jobs, paying taxes, volunteering, and participating in youth groups. Broad, blunt enforcement not only catches lawbreakers; it also scares law-abiding families and pushes them into the shadows, weakening community trust and cooperation with law enforcement.
Warnings, Reminders, and Limitations
- The letter does not change any legal process. It is a moral and pastoral guide.
- It does not alter immigration law, timelines, or fees.
- It carries moral weight and encourages officials and communities to higher standards of care.
The bishops remind parish staff to be careful with legal advice—priests and ministers are not lawyers, and families need trusted legal help.
How Communities and Readers Can Respond
The Kansas dioceses encourage anyone seeking help to contact their parish office or diocesan staff. Suggested actions for residents:
- Support neighbors and share solid information.
- Ask leaders to choose policies that balance order and mercy.
- Direct families to trusted legal clinics and diocesan resources.
For diocesan updates and resources related to the pastoral letter, the dioceses have posted information online:
- Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas: archkck.org
- Diocese of Wichita: catholicdioceseofwichita.org
- Diocese of Salina: salinadiocese.org
For readers who want to review federal enforcement priorities and the role of discretion in day-to-day decisions, DHS provides an overview here: https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-enforcement-priorities.
The bishops’ message is steady as debate continues in Topeka and Washington: uphold the law, guard the border, and show compassion to people who came here for safety and work—especially parents and children who call Kansas home.
This Article in a Nutshell
Kansas bishops (Aug 14, 2025) urged humane immigration enforcement, opposing mass raids and family separations, and asked parishes to provide legal and pastoral support.
