The Steady Drip: US Bishops Set to Collide with CPB, Trump on Immigration (Connecting the Dots: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), The Chertoff Group, The Catholic church, The Commercial Club of Chicago, The Papal knighthood, Kappa Beta Phi, The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, The Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future & Soros Funding, All Networking)

US Bishops Set to Collide with CPB, Trump on Immigration (Connecting the Dots: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), The Chertoff Group, The Catholic church, The Commercial Club of Chicago, The Papal knighthood, Kappa Beta Phi, The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, The Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future & Soros Funding, All Networking)

Newsmax.com

By Jim Morley | Saturday, 24 May 2025 06:30 PM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/us-bishops-trump/2025/05/24/id/1212244/

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is on a collision course with the Trump administration over competing views on immigration and the role the government should play in caring for at-risk migrants, according to a statement the conference released this week.

This USCCB chastised the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for rescinding a policy that gave guidance on the care, custody and documentation of pregnant women they encounter.

Bishop Mark J. Seitz, of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration wrote, "It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved.”

In early May, CPB Acting Commissioner Pete Flores issued an internal memo that declared four previous policies had been declared "either obsolete or misaligned with current Agency guidance and immigration enforcement priorities." One such policy was a 2022 mandate called the “Processing of Pregnant, and Postpartum Noncitizens and Infants," which set forth instructions for CPB, which included offering a medical assessment to all pregnant women and making sure breast-feeding mothers have access to privacy and rest facilities."

“This decision is all the more concerning as the [Trump] administration simultaneously ramps up family detention in place of safer, more cost-effective alternatives to detention," Seitz said.

"Let us be clear: protecting pregnant mothers and their children can never be considered 'obsolete.' This principle irrefutably extends to noncitizens in immigration detention, each of whom possesses an inviolable, God-given dignity that must be respected. We urge the Administration to reissue guidance that adequately reflects and affirms the increased standard of care due to this vulnerable population while in government custody," he added.

Time will tell how much a of conflict the Catholic church generally and Pope Leo XIV specifically will have with the Trump administration over the issue of illegal immigration. Vice President JD Vance and Border Czar Tom Homan had politely debated Pope Francis over immigration just prior to his passing. Although he has yet to address the issue publicly, Pope Leo’s brother John Prevost told the New York Times, “I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.”

Connecting the Dots:
Joseph Kurtz is the president of the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB), an archbishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

National Review Board on clergy sex abuse is an advisory group for the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB).

Robert S. Bennett was a member of the National Review Board on clergy sex abuse, William J. Clinton’s attorney and a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Antoinette Cook Bush was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s stepdaughter.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is Antoinette Cook Bush’s stepfather, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Valerie B. Jarrett is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece and was the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration.

Francis E. George was a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, an archbishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, a trustee at the Catholic University of America and the president of the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB).

Timothy M. Dolan was the president of the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB), is a trustee at the Catholic University of America, an archbishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church and the president of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation.

Edward M. Egan was a trustee at the Catholic University of America, a cardinal, archbishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church and a director at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation.

Stephen M. Lessing is a director at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation and a member of Kappa Beta Phi.

Christopher C. Quick is a member of Kappa Beta Phi and a director at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation.

Peter C. Georgiopoulos is a member of Kappa Beta Phi and a director at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation.

Thomas M. Joyce is a member of Kappa Beta Phi and a director at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation.

Alfred E. Smith IV is a member of Kappa Beta Phi and a director at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation.

Thomas J. Moran is a director at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation and a director at the New York Catholic Foundation.

John E. Zuccotti was a director at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, a co-chairman for the Brookfield Office Properties, a director at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center and the New York (NY) first deputy mayor.

Brookfield Office Properties is the owner of Zuccotti Park.

Zuccotti Park is the Occupy Wall Street staging area for 2011 NYC protests.

Occupy Wall Street was the initial protest for the Occupy Movement.

Diana L. Taylor was a director at the Brookfield Office Properties, an investment banker for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and is Michael R. Bloomberg’s companion.

Lawrence G. Creel was a VP for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and is a member of Kappa Beta Phi.

Theodore P. Shen is a member of Kappa Beta Phi and was a group chairman for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.

Craig S. Sim is a member of Kappa Beta Phi and was a managing director for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.

Richard S. Pechter is a member of Kappa Beta Phi and was the group chairman for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.

John K. Castle is a member of Kappa Beta Phi and was the president & CEO for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.

Peter T. Grauer is a member of Kappa Beta Phi, the chairman for Bloomberg LP and was a managing director at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.

Joe L. Roby is a member of Kappa Beta Phi, was the president & CEO for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and the chairman emeritus for Credit Suisse First Boston.

Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette acquired Credit Suisse First Boston.

John K. Castle was the president & CEO for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and is a director at the New York Catholic Foundation.

Michael R. Bloomberg is Diana L. Taylor’s companion, the founder of Bloomberg LP, the founder for the Bloomberg Family Foundation, was the New York (NY) mayor, the chairman for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center and a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone.

George Soros was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Harlem Children's Zone.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Howard W. Lutnick was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, is a director at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center and a fundraiser for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign.

Peter S. Lowy was a fundraiser for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign, a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and Robert S. Bennett was his attorney.

Robert S. Bennett was Peter S. Lowy’s attorney, William J. Clinton’s attorney, a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and a member of the National Review Board on clergy sex abuse.

Antoinette Cook Bush was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s stepdaughter.

National Review Board on clergy sex abuse is an advisory group for the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB).

Joseph Kurtz is the president of the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB), an archbishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Daniel N. DiNardo is a trustee at the Catholic University of America and a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church.

Timothy M. Dolan is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Roger M. Mahony is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Adam J. Maida is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Edwin F. O'Brien is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Sean Patrick O'Malley is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Justin Francis Rigali is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Edward M. Egan was a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Francis E. George was a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Carolyn Y. Woo is a trustee at the Catholic University of America, and the president & CEO for the Catholic Relief Services.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Catholic Relief Services, the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), the Human Rights Watch and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was a benefactor at the Human Rights Watch, the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Human Rights Watch and the Center for American Progress.

John J. Studzinski is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), a director at the Human Rights Watch and a papal knighthood knight.

papal knighthood is an honor conferred by pope from the Roman Catholic Church.

Morton H. Halperin is a senior adviser at the Open Society Foundations and was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a fundraiser for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign, Antoinette Cook Bush’s stepfather and Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle.

Antoinette Cook Bush is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s stepdaughter and was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Robert S. Bennett was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Peter S. Lowy’s attorney, William J. Clinton’s attorney and a member of the National Review Board on clergy sex abuse.

National Review Board on clergy sex abuse is an advisory group for the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB).

Francis E. George was the president of the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB), an archbishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, a trustee at the Catholic University of America and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Valerie B. Jarrett is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago,

Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece and was the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Antoinette Cook Bush’s stepfather and Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Teresa Heinz Kerry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), married to John F. Kerry, Cameron F. Kerry’s sister-in-law, the chair for the Heinz Endowments, was married to H. John Heinz III, and Donald W. Wuerl was the deacon at her wedding to John Heinz III.

Donald W. Wuerl was the deacon at Teresa Heinz Kerry’s wedding to John Heinz III, a trustee at the Catholic University of America and a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church.