PORTLAND

The following is Bishop P. Deeley’s statement in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

“I join my fellow bishops in personally expressing my disappointment with the decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Many DACA youth and families are understandably filled with anxiety and fear about what will happen to them. This decision does not represent the spirit of compassion that defines our nation at its best. In fact, it undermines that spirit in creating such unease among these young people. Our baptismal call to serve the most vulnerable among us calls me to speak out on behalf of these young people, many of whom have lived peaceably among us for much of their lives. I call on our Maine delegation to take the lead in passing legislation to protect these innocent people and to further address our broken immigration system. Please join me in praying for the DACA youth, who are always welcome in our churches, and for our leaders, that they might work to alleviate potential suffering by using common sense in this time of grave difficulty.”

— Bishop Robert P. Deeley, Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland