More Asian American Catholics take action against Trump policies

Many Catholic churches have added Vietnamese services to the Spanish and English masses.

For years, many AAPI Catholic parishes operated under a "quiet faith" model—focusing on family, liturgy, and integration. But as the 2026 deportation machinery grinds into high gear, that silence has shattered. 

What's the catalyst for this activism? A searing, rare public condemnation from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) regarding the "dehumanizing and immoral" treatment of immigrants by ICE and Donald Trump's attacks against the anti-war Pope Leo.

Continuing his running criticism of the first American Pope because the Pontiff cited the relevant Gospels of "welcoming the stranger" and being against unjust wars referring to Trump's Iran war, Trump said: "We believe strongly in law and order, and he seemed to have a problem with that, so there's nothing to apologize for. He's wrong.

"He's a very liberal person, and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime. He's a man that doesn't think that we should be going with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world" Trump continued. "I'm not a fan of Pope Leo."

The US Bishops are finally throwing some real heat, and it’s about time they stopped playing nice. For a long while, the USCCB felt like it was stuck in a safe, predictable loop, but the recent "Special Message" coming out of Baltimore is a straight-up vibe shift. We’re seeing a Church that’s finally waking up to the fact that you can’t claim to be "pro-life" while turning a blind eye to the "indiscriminate mass deportation" of our neighbors.

Archbishop Paul Coakley  in red state Oklahoma and the crew are dropping the polite diplomatic talk. They’re calling out the dehumanizing rhetoric coming from the White House for what it is: an affront to the Gospel. From the threat of ending birthright citizenship to the saber-rattling toward Iran, the bishops are essentially telling the administration that "America First" doesn't mean "God Second."

Even Washington, DC's Archbishop Timothy Broglio — not exactly a radical — is out here saying troops have a moral right to disobey orders that violate their conscience. It’s a bold, gritty moment for a hierarchy that usually prefers the safety of the sacristy.

Asian American Catholics response

The reaction from the Asian American Catholic community has been swift, particularly because these policies hit home for a demographic that is disproportionately impacted by shifts in immigration law.

Groups like the Asian Pacific Catholic Network have echoed the bishops' concerns. For many Vietnamese, Filipino, and Korean American Catholics, the threat to birthright citizenship isn't a theoretical debate — it’s a direct attack on their families' stability.

There is a growing movement among Gen Z and Millennial Asian American Catholics who are pushing their parishes to become "sanctuary spaces." They are moving beyond the "model minority" myth to stand in fierce solidarity with Latino brothers and sisters.

Key issues and official stances

Mass Deportations: Leaders have condemned the "climate of fear" created by the administration's immigration enforcement. They have highlighted how fear of ICE raids has suppressed Mass attendance in some Asian American and other immigrant communities.

Foreign Policy: Asian American Catholic voices joined the broader U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in criticizing what they termed "foreign policy adventurism," specifically regarding threats to civilian infrastructure in Iran.

Human Dignity: Leaders like Archbishop Paul S. Coakley (President of the USCCB) have emphasized that national security policies must not come at the expense of "God-given human dignity," a sentiment strongly supported by the National Catholic Network for Asian & Pacific Islanders.

Clergy and parishes on the front lines

Many Catholic parishes, often attended by immigrant families, are becoming centers for organizing against deportation policies.

In predominantly Filipino and Vietnamese parishes, where respect for hierarchy is deep, the Bishops' stance transformed political dissent into a religious obligation.

We are seeing "Blue Masses" replaced by "Solidarity Masses." Clergy are now explicitly naming the "sin of indifference" from the pulpit, linking the suffering at the border to the families sitting in the third row.

Catholic parishes and organizations in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area are actively supporting immigrant communities against intensified ICE actions,, including providing for families, offering sanctuary, and pursuing legal action, according to the National Catholic Reporter. Key actions include supporting impacted families, organizing prayer services, and advocating against surveillance. Some clergy have reported ICE surveillance of churches.

Across the US, the Catholic Church is moving from quiet prayer to public protest. As the Trump administration’s policies on mass deportation and foreign intervention ramp up, a growing number of Asian American bishops—leading some of the most diverse flocks in the country—are drawing a line in the sand. For these leaders, "immigrant rights" isn't an abstract policy debate; it’s the lived reality of their parishioners.

The first Filipino American bishop to head a US diocese, Bishop Oscar Solis, has emerged as a steady voice of resistance in the Intermountain West. Just last week, Solis called for a statewide prayer vigil to protect migrants from what he termed "indiscriminate" enforcement actions. 

DIOCESE OF SALT LAKE CITY

Filipino American Bishop Oscar Solis supports the Pope's anti-war stance.

Solis' message to Utah Catholics is clear: we cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of those seeking safety. He has also aligned his diocese with Pope Leo XIV’s urgent calls for peace, linking the plight of refugees abroad to the struggle of migrants at home.

In Honolulu, Bishop Larry Silva has fostered a "spirit of Aloha" that stands in sharp contrast to the exclusionary rhetoric coming from Washington. Silva has been a vocal advocate for recognizing the fundamental dignity of all persons, regardless of documentation. By prioritizing human dignity over national security tropes, Silva has helped mobilize one of the most ethnically diverse dioceses in the nation to advocate for meaningful immigration reform.

Leading a (Stockton) diocese that is the literal "breadbasket" of the country, Bishop Myron Cotta (of Portuguese-Azorean heritage, deeply connected to California's Central Valley's immigrant roots) has issued some of the most direct pastoral statements to date. 

In December 2024 and throughout early 2025, Cotta warned that mass deportations would tear apart the very fabric of society. His diocese has partnered with Catholic Charities to provide legal resources and safe spaces, explicitly telling migrant families: "We will shepherd you... and continue to advocate for your dignity."

Parishes in Southern California and the Bay Area—many with large Vietnamese, Filipino, and Korean congregations—have been advised on "sensitive location" protocols, essentially preparing to treat churches as sanctuaries if federal agents attempt arrests on church grounds.

View from the edge

As the Church enters the 2025-2026 Jubilee Year, these bishops are framing their opposition not as partisan politics, but as a "moral voice" essential to the American character.

This could have implications in this year's midterms and even in the 2028 Presidential elections. Based on early 2026 data, American Catholic support for Donald Trump has shown signs of declining, falling below 50% according to recent polling. This shift is driven by tensions between his administration and Pope Leo XIV over the war in Iran, which has created a "divide among Catholics."

The tension has created a dilemma for some conservative Catholics who, despite favoring Trump's position on abortion and affirmative action, are uncomfortable with direct attacks on the pope leading to questions about Trump's true values.

According to the Pew Research Center, Catholics made up 22% of the voters who cast their ballots for Trump and the Republican Party in 2024. If even a sliver of those voters decide they've had enough of the Trump regime and its anti-immigrant stance, the rising price of groceries and gas, the Iran war and Trump's catering to the multi-bilionaires, that could spell trouble for the GOP's control of Congress.

For those Catholics still struggling about chuch vs. state and who believe that the pope should not be involved in politics: It is not about politics; Iits about values. Pope Leo is merely espousing Catholic beliefs and quoting the Bible. On this, It is clear: "Blessed are the peacemakers." and Matthew 25:35 ("I was a stranger and you welcomed me") and Leviticus 19:34.

As Bishop Oscar Cantú of San José recently noted, the Church is no longer hesitant to "offend" if it means standing up for the truth. For the Asian American faithful, these bishops aren't just administrators — they are the front line of a moral movement that refuses to let the "stranger" be treated as an enemy.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.