Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark has issued one of the strongest public condemnations by a senior US Catholic leader of the federal government’s immigration enforcement actions, urging Catholics and other people of faith to oppose additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Speaking during an online interfaith prayer service hosted by Faith in Action on January 26, the cardinal called on believers to confront what he described as injustice with moral clarity rather than resignation. His remarks came amid heightened national tensions following violent confrontations involving federal agents in Minneapolis, including the killing of a civilian during protests. Tobin framed his appeal as a response to widespread feelings of helplessness, urging communities not to turn away from disturbing events but to engage them directly through prayer, public witness, and civic action.
During his reflection, Tobin described federal immigration enforcement as operating beyond acceptable moral limits and encouraged Catholics to use their voices to say no to policies that dehumanize migrants and protesters. Drawing on literature and historical examples, he argued that authoritarian systems fear ordinary people who refuse silent compliance. Tobin said that saying no today means telling the truth about what is happening, refusing to normalize violence, and honoring those whose lives have been disrupted or lost. He specifically referenced the killing of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident shot during protests, noting that conflicting accounts surrounding the incident have intensified public distrust. Tobin said mourning the dead and naming victims publicly is itself an act of resistance against indifference and denial.
The cardinal emphasized that faith based opposition must extend beyond words into visible solidarity. He pointed to ongoing vigils and advocacy efforts outside detention centers in New Jersey, where people from multiple faith traditions regularly gather to support detainees and their families. According to Tobin, these actions demonstrate how religious communities can insist on human dignity by offering presence, consolation, and accountability. He stressed that comforting families separated by detention policies and engaging directly with enforcement personnel are concrete ways believers can express moral opposition while remaining rooted in nonviolence and prayer.
Tobin also directly linked moral witness to legislative responsibility, urging Catholics to contact their elected representatives ahead of an upcoming congressional vote on appropriations. He asked lawmakers to reject renewed funding for immigration enforcement agencies, arguing that public authority must serve the common good rather than perpetuate fear. Referencing the Gospel and the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Tobin framed the moment as a test of conscience for both individuals and institutions. He concluded by challenging believers to consider how they will respond publicly to violence and injustice, urging them to help restore what he described as a culture of life amid growing social fracture.
