In Puerto Rico, a place known for its rich culture and warm hospitality, a wave of immigration enforcement has shaken communities — especially those with deep ties to the Dominican Republic and other neighboring nations.
As federal raids ramp up, the island’s Catholic leaders are speaking out — not with political slogans, but with moral conviction.
Catholic Leaders Say “Enough Is Enough”
At a June 11 press conference hosted by the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Bishop Ángel Luis Ríos Matos of Mayagüez made his stance clear: parishes under his guidance will not cooperate with U.S. immigration agents unless they come with a court order.
But even then, the bishop emphasized that when it comes to protecting the poor and vulnerable, there’s a greater justice at play.
“If consequences must be paid, they will be,” Ríos said.
“This isn’t civil disobedience — it’s obedience to justice and charity. We must obey God before men.”
That declaration drew strong applause from attendees, including Archbishop Roberto González Nieves of San Juan and Bishop Rubén Antonio González Medina of Ponce.
The Political Context Behind the Raids
The crackdown in Puerto Rico is part of broader immigration enforcement efforts under former President Donald Trump’s policies, which continued under renewed momentum.
Though Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, it has seen a sharp rise in deportations — particularly targeting undocumented Dominicans.
Governor Jenniffer González-Colón, a Republican and Trump supporter, has publicly backed the deportation efforts.
She made it clear her administration wouldn’t interfere with ICE operations — even if they take place in churches or hospitals — warning that the island cannot risk losing federal funding.
Hundreds Detained Since January
According to a report by Spanish newspaper El País, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has detained 445 people in Puerto Rico since raids began on January 26.
While most of those detained are Dominican nationals, migrants from Haiti, Venezuela, and Mexico have also been swept up in the operations.
Sandra Colón, a spokesperson for the DHS office in Puerto Rico, told the newspaper that 81 individuals have already been deported or left voluntarily.
“These Deportations Are Inhumane,” Says Another Bishop
Bishop Eusebio Ramos Morales of Caguas didn’t mince words in his written statement, condemning the raids as “legal but unjust and immoral” — especially when they’re done without compassion or basic human respect.
“We believed, perhaps naively, that these harsh practices wouldn’t reach Puerto Rico,” he wrote.
“But now we see agents targeting the poor and vulnerable — especially our Dominican brothers and sisters, whose role in Puerto Rico’s society is invaluable.”
Ramos pointed out the real-world effects: children missing school, sick people avoiding hospitals, families terrified to leave their homes — and many being stripped of their dignity and livelihoods.
“This situation cries out to heaven,” he added.
Churches Say They’ll Offer Sanctuary — Despite Policy Changes
Bishop Ríos also touched on the role of the Church as a place of refuge.
He insisted that if federal agents attempt to make arrests in churches, the ancient and globally recognized tradition of sanctuary should apply.
However, that moral claim is now running up against new federal guidelines.
Back in January, the Trump administration officially stripped places of worship of their designation as “protected areas” from immigration enforcement.
That means churches, mosques, and synagogues are no longer automatically off-limits to ICE agents.
Legal Pushback Falls Flat
Several religious organizations — 27 in total, both Christian and Jewish — challenged the government’s decision in court.
They argued that the move violated constitutional protections of religious freedom.
But in April, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled against them, stating the policy shift was simply an internal guideline update and did not mandate raids during worship services or while ministries are active.
ICE Says Churches and Schools Are Still Safe — For Now
Despite the policy changes, ICE officials in Puerto Rico have attempted to reassure the public.
In a local interview aired on Telemundo on June 10, Rebecca González-Ramos, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Puerto Rico, said agents are not targeting religious spaces.
“We’re not entering churches, hospitals, or schools,” she said. “And we don’t separate families either.”
Her comments seemed aimed at calming public fear — though community leaders remain wary, especially given the sudden shift in long-held protections.
A Moral Stand in Uncertain Times
As raids continue, Puerto Rico’s bishops aren’t backing down.
For them, this isn’t just about politics or legal technicalities — it’s about moral responsibility.
With fear growing in immigrant communities, the island’s Catholic leaders are offering not just words, but a challenge to the faithful: to remember that justice, charity, and human dignity come first.
And for many on the island, that message is resonating louder than any government directive.
