White House border czar Tom Homan criticized the Catholic Church on Friday, arguing that its opposition to large-scale deportations conflicts with U.S. law enforcement and, in his view, contributes to loss of life.
“The Catholic Church is wrong,” Homan said. “I’m sorry. I’m a lifelong Catholic. I’m saying it not only as a border czar — I’ll say it as a Catholic. They need to spend time fixing the Catholic Church, in my opinion.”
Homan made the comments at the White House while responding to questions about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This week, the bishops denounced President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, warning it has created “a climate of fear and anxiety” surrounding enforcement actions.
Their statement followed remarks from Pope Leo, who called for “deep reflection” on how migrants are treated under the Trump administration’s deportation campaign.
Homan said Church leaders should address internal problems before weighing in on U.S. immigration policy. He also accused them of applying a double standard, pointing to strict security at Vatican property.
“So, according to them, the message we should send to the whole world is that if you cross the border illegally, which is a crime, don’t worry about it,” Homan said.
He went on to argue that deportations ordered by federal judges after due process should be carried out, and that discouraging enforcement sends the wrong signal globally.
Homan defended the administration’s approach as both lawful and humane, saying stronger enforcement reduces reliance on cartels and dangerous smuggling routes. He claimed thousands of migrants have died during illegal border crossings and connected the broader border debate to fentanyl deaths in the United States.
“Secure border saves lives. I wish the Catholic Church would understand that,” Homan said.
He added that countries and institutions have a right to protect their borders and facilities, insisting the U.S. is pursuing that right through stricter ICE enforcement.
