WASHINGTON – In a Sunday interview, Vice President JD Vance criticized the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops after the organization publicly opposed President Donald Trump’s decision to eliminate guidelines that previously restricted immigration enforcement near religious sites and schools.

Bishop Mark J. Seitz, who leads the conference’s migration committee, along with other Catholic leaders, issued a statement on Thursday arguing that conducting “non-emergency immigration enforcement” in sensitive areas like places of worship goes against the common good.

“They turn places of care, healing, and sanctuary into locations of fear and apprehension for vulnerable individuals, undermining the trust between those providing services and the communities they serve,” he stated.

Last week, the Trump administration overturned earlier guidance that advised against immigration enforcement actions that might impede access to essential services in so-called “sensitive locations.”

On CBS’s “Face the Nation,” host Margaret Brennan questioned Vance regarding his stance on immigration raids or actions during church services or in schools.

Vance defended the administration’s stance. “If someone has been convicted of a violent crime, regardless of their immigration status, it is necessary to apprehend them for public safety,” he asserted.

Having openly discussed his Catholic beliefs, Vance expressed sadness over the bishops’ recent statement, but also accused them of prioritizing financial gain over genuinely assisting immigrants in the country.

“I believe the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops should introspect and realize that when they receive over $100 million to assist in resettling undocumented immigrants, their focus may not be entirely on humanitarian issues but rather on their financial interests,” he remarked.

He suggested that they have not represented a reliable ally in enforcing the immigration policies that the American public supports.

YSL News has reached out to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for a response. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, the president of the organization, also made a statement critiquing several of Trump’s broad immigration executive orders.

However, he did express support for Trump’s actions regarding the federal government’s policies on gender issues.

In the Sunday interview, Vance also stood by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, expressing confidence that Gabbard would be approved by the Senate.

Hegseth was narrowly confirmed last week despite allegations concerning sexual misconduct and heavy drinking, among other things. Three Republican senators—Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski—voted against his confirmation, but Vance cast the deciding vote as vice president.

Gabbard is anticipated to face scrutiny from senators regarding her controversial trip to Syria in 2017, where she met with former President Bashar al-Assad, a move that infuriated many Democrats who viewed it as an endorsement of Assad amid widespread accusations of war crimes.

Critics have also pointed to her previous comments that they argue align with Russian narratives.

“We need capable intelligence agencies to ensure our safety, and part of that involves rebuilding trust with those services. We believe Tulsi is the right choice to achieve that,” Vance stated.

Contributing: Phillip M. Bailey