Pope Francis has blasted Donald Trump over the ongoing mass deportation of illegal migrants from his country.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Pope Francis has frowned on United States President, Donald Trump’s deportations of illegal migrants from his country.
The Pontiff spoke on the issue as Venezuela brought home nearly 200 undocumented migrants from the United States, even as the UN warned there should be no forced returns to the troubled Caribbean country.
The Pope has been vocal in his advocacy for migrants, urging countries to welcome, protect, and integrate those fleeing conflicts, poverty, and climate disasters, not exceeding the limits of their capacity.
Since coming into power barely a month ago, Trump has initiated a series of immigration-focused executive actions aimed at a significant crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
The Pope, in a letter to US bishops on Monday, said deporting migrants, who are fleeing their countries for genuine reasons, would damage their dignity and place them in a state of vulnerability and defenselessness.
He said: “This does not impede the development of a policy that regulates orderly and legal migration. However, this development cannot come about through the privilege of some and the sacrifice of others.
“What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.”
Francis urged the clergy not to give in to narratives that “discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering” to migrants.
First set of migrants deported from the US arrive Venezuela
Meanwhile, NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Venezuela has brought home nearly 200 undocumented migrants from the United States, even as the UN warned there should be no forced returns to the troubled Caribbean country.
Caracas sent two planes which returned home late Monday, saying it hoped for a new beginning in ties with Washington, which does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as the country’s legitimate president.
But in Geneva, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, insisted that “people under international protection should not be returned, and there should be no forced returns to Venezuela.”
Shortly after taking office on January 20, Trump stripped roughly 600,000 Venezuelans in the United States of protection from deportation issued under his predecessor, Joe Biden, a measure that afforded foreigners who cannot safely return home because of war, natural disasters or other extraordinary circumstances.
UNHCR spokesman William Spindler, said the situation in Venezuela had not changed, “and in fact, some of the political instability in the country has increased following the recent elections.”
Maduro, keen for an end to crippling US sanctions, agreed with visiting US envoy, Richard Grenell, on January 31 to accept the return of deported migrants and also offered to provide the transport.
Maduro’s claim of victory in elections last July has been rejected by the United States and numerous other countries, many of which recognize opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, as the rightful victor.
Some of the migrants had handcuffs removed before they disembarked, with some raising their arms in celebration as they descended.
“Venezuela has always made it clear that any transfer of Venezuelans must be done with absolute respect for their dignity and human rights,” a foreign ministry statement said.
