The Trump administration has canceled an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, and the move threatens care for unaccompanied minors. The cancellation targets a migrant children program that has operated for more than 60 years, so its future now looks uncertain. Catholic Charities has housed and cared for migrant kids for decades, but it could shut down within months. The decision lands as national immigration debates intensify, and it places child welfare at the center of the storm.
Feud With Pope Leo Adds Political Heat
The contract cancellation arrives amid tension between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over migration and the war in Iran. Trump has attacked the American-born pontiff in public, and he has criticized Leo’s views on crime and foreign policy. The president also drew backlash after posting an image portraying himself as Jesus Christ. He later deleted an AI-generated image after he said he believed it showed him as a doctor, not a religious figure.
Church Leaders Call the Move “Baffling”
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski said the decision makes little sense because the program has helped thousands of children since the 1960s. He wrote that the Archdiocese’s services have earned recognition for excellence, and they have served as a national model. Wenski warned the charity could be forced to close within three months because funding vanished. He argued the government would struggle to replicate the same level of competence elsewhere.
Federal Officials Cite Lower Child Numbers
The Office of Refugee Resettlement, within the Department of Health and Human Services, has long partnered with Catholic Charities to shelter immigrant children. Federal officials said the number of unaccompanied minors in care has dropped sharply under Trump. A department spokesperson pointed to about 1,900 children now, compared with a peak near 22,000 during the Biden administration. Yet Wenski said lower numbers still do not justify dismantling a proven system.
Children Face Uncertainty as Closure Looms
Officials have not clarified what happens to children currently housed by Catholic Charities if the program closes. University of Miami law professor Robert Latham warned relocations could harm children psychologically because repeated moves disrupt bonding and stability. Supporters of Catholic Charities argue the cut punishes vulnerable kids and undermines a trusted migrant children program. Detractors may say fewer cases demand fewer contracts, and they may back shifting funds to other priorities.
Trump yanks millions from Catholic Charities amid Pope feud
Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash
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