The White House has strongly defended President Donald Trump’s migration policy after Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born head of the Catholic Church, described the treatment of migrants in the United States as “inhuman.” Speaking to reporters, Pope Leo said he could not understand how people could call themselves pro-life while supporting policies that cause suffering for immigrants.
The pope, who was born in Chicago and elected in May following the death of Pope Francis, added that being pro-life should not only mean opposing abortion. He said it should also include rejecting the death penalty and standing against the mistreatment of migrants. His words have sparked debate across both political and religious communities in the US.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, herself a Catholic, pushed back on Wednesday against the criticism. She told reporters that the administration rejects the claim that migrants are being treated inhumanely. According to her, the government is enforcing US immigration laws in what she called “the most humane way possible.”
Leavitt also compared the Trump administration’s actions with those of former President Joe Biden. She argued that record numbers of people entered the US illegally during Biden’s presidency and that migrants faced “significant, inhumane treatment” under his leadership. The White House, she insisted, is focused on reducing illegal crossings while still respecting human dignity.
Pope Leo’s comments highlight the sharp divide between the Catholic Church’s moral teachings and the Trump administration’s immigration approach. The pope stressed that protecting human life must extend beyond abortion debates to include the way societies treat the vulnerable, such as migrants and those on death row.
Months before becoming pope, Leo—then Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—had shared articles critical of both Trump and Vice President JD Vance on social media. Many of those posts focused on migration and the Church’s stance on compassion for the poor and displaced. His election as pope has further placed a spotlight on his strong views about social justice and human dignity.
The clash between Pope Leo and the White House could influence how Catholic voters in the United States view the Trump administration. Catholics make up a large portion of the US electorate, and issues like immigration, abortion, and the death penalty continue to shape political debates.
For now, the White House insists it will continue enforcing immigration laws, while Pope Leo has made clear that the Church will keep speaking out on moral issues. The disagreement underscores the deep tensions between politics and faith in the US, particularly when it comes to how migrants are treated at the border.