(UNITED STATES) The White House on December 22, 2025, rejected a request from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to halt immigration enforcement during the Christmas season, saying federal agents will keep arrest and removal operations running through the holidays. At a 2:15 PM ET briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The President is committed to enforcing our immigration laws every day, including holidays. There will be no pause in operations to protect American communities.” The refusal sets the White House against one of the country’s most prominent faith bodies at a moment when detentions and deportations have risen and families in mixed-status households say holiday travel now carries extra risk. For many, the message arrived as church services and school breaks began across the country.
The bishops’ request and rationale
The bishops’ appeal came in a December 20 letter to President Donald J. Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, signed by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, archbishop for the Military Services, USA and chair of the USCCB Committee on Migration.
Broglio asked for a “Christmas pause” in ICE detentions and deportations from December 24, 2025, through January 2, 2026, urging what he called “humanitarian compassion” so families could mark the holiday without fear of a knock at the door. The letter, posted by the bishops at https://www.usccb.org/, tied the request to scripture, citing Matthew 2:13–15 on the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt.
In Chicago and other cities, pastors said parishioners have skipped Mass and Christmas markets, worried that any outing could end badly during the heightened enforcement.
Enforcement numbers and field reports
Federal statistics and local reports underpinned the bishops’ plea.
- The Department of Homeland Security recorded 47,302 removals in fiscal year 2025 through December 15, data released on December 21 at https://www.dhs.gov/. That is a 28% rise from the prior year.
- The bishops pointed to reports of intensified field actions, including a December 18 raid in Chicago that detained 142 people, “including families.”
Immigration lawyers described the downstream effects when parents are detained before a major holiday:
- Children may end up with relatives or in temporary care.
- Families scramble for money, rides, and legal help.
- Some detainees are transferred quickly to other states, which can hinder access to counsel or bond support.
White House and DHS responses
Leavitt’s statement at the White House briefing, later published on https://www.whitehouse.gov/, was reinforced by DHS as reporters pressed for details on holiday staffing.
- At 4:30 PM ET, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said, “Pausing enforcement would undermine public safety. Criminal aliens don’t get holidays.”
- At 5:07 PM ET, Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X: “Christmas is for families—American families first. No breaks for those who broke our laws.”
Administration officials argued that an official pause would:
- Invite evasion.
- Signal weakness.
- Undermine public safety, according to their framing.
Supporters said constant operations deter crime and unlawful entry. The dispute placed the White House and the USCCB on opposite sides of the familiar question: Can mercy in timing coexist with strict enforcement when families are watching at home?
Policy drivers: Executive Order and targets
Officials tied the no-pause decision to Executive Order 14159 (issued January 20, 2025), which they said requires daily enforcement targets of 3,000 removals.
- The order has become a benchmark inside DHS, shaping how field offices plan sweeps, detention bed space, and flights.
- Supporters argue targets give agents clear direction and keep pressure on people with final removal orders.
- Critics warn quotas can push arrests of low-risk people, including long-term residents with U.S.-citizen children, as officers try to meet numbers.
Observers noted holiday periods are especially challenging for families trying to get legal help. VisaVerge.com reported that holidays can make it hard to find lawyers or gather papers, which can affect case outcomes. The bishops argued even a short break could prevent sudden separations while courts, schools, and shelters run limited hours.
Public-safety incidents and competing narratives
The administration pointed to high-profile crimes as justification for round-the-clock operations. Officials cited a December 19 incident in Houston involving an undocumented person with prior deportations charged with assault.
- Proponents of stricter enforcement say such cases show why delays matter.
- Groups favoring tougher controls argue the public mainly sees cases that go wrong, not the arrests that prevent harm.
FAIR (the Federation for American Immigration Reform) issued a 7:30 PM ET press release criticizing the bishops’ intervention. FAIR’s president, Tom Fitton, said, “Bishops should focus on their flock, not obstruct justice. ICE’s 92% criminal arrest rate in 2025 proves enforcement saves lives.” He praised the White House decision.
Responses from immigration lawyers and faith leaders
Immigration lawyers and some faith leaders countered the public-safety framing as overly narrow.
- At 8:15 PM ET, William Stock, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said, “This hardline stance ignores 1.2 million non-criminal detainees in limbo.”
- Lawyers say many detainees have no violent record and include people picked up after traffic stops or workplace checks, then held far from home.
- They note holiday detention can cut people off from medicines, paychecks, and child care plans even when a judge later grants bond.
Stock argued a pause would not stop the government from pursuing people with serious convictions but would ease fear for families with pending cases. He urged the House to soften its tone.
Later that evening, Archbishop Broglio answered the administration’s refusal. At 6:45 PM ET, the USCCB released a statement quoting him: “We respect the law but implore mercy for the vulnerable, especially children.” He asked for a brief window so parents could attend Mass, visit relatives, and put gifts under trees without dread. The archbishop did not call for an end to enforcement.
Catholic leaders said they support border controls alongside legal paths for migrants but argued timing matters, and raids around holy days can signal indifference to family life. White House officials framed the issue as equal treatment: laws apply on weekdays and holidays alike. The bishops said they would keep praying.
On-the-ground status and community impact
By late Monday, there was no sign of a pause on the ground.
- As of 11 PM UTC on December 22, ICE operations were continuing nationwide.
- Field offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami reported 512 arrests on the day through 10 PM ET, according to operational logs cited by Fox News at 9:20 PM ET.
For immigrant families, even a daily tally like that can ripple through communities fast as news spreads through phone and church groups. Employers also feel the impact:
- A worker detained days before year-end can disrupt staffing and payroll.
- Sudden arrests can leave rented housing, car payments, and school schedules in chaos overnight.
Legal context and practical steps for families
The standoff also has political weight for President Trump, who has made immigration enforcement central to his administration, and for the bishops, who often serve immigrant-heavy parishes.
- In the United States, ICE has broad power to detain people it believes are removable, though many can still ask an immigration judge for bond or other relief depending on the case.
- Basic government information on DHS and its agencies is available at https://www.dhs.gov/.
For families facing an arrest, lawyers say the first hours matter. Key practical steps include:
💡 If a family member is detained during holidays, locate their holding facility quickly, secure a notice to appear, and arrange a trusted attorney in advance to avoid delays when offices are closed.
- Finding where a person is being held.
- Getting a “notice to appear.”
- Arranging care for children.
With no holiday pause, those steps may collide with closed offices and reduced hours, making urgent tasks harder to accomplish.
Key takeaway: The administration refused the bishops’ request for a temporary Christmas pause in detentions and removals, citing public safety and existing daily enforcement targets. Faith leaders and lawyers say a short break would reduce humanitarian harm to families with non-criminal members, while supporters of the policy argue constant enforcement prevents harm and discourages evasion. All sides warn the stakes are high for families during the holiday period.
The White House has officially declined a request by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to halt immigration arrests and deportations between December 24 and January 2. Administration officials emphasized that enforcement is a year-round commitment necessary for public safety. Meanwhile, faith leaders and legal advocates expressed deep concern over the humanitarian impact on families, citing increased enforcement numbers and the potential for trauma during the holiday season.
