New Delhi, Feb. 11 -- Pope Francis has expressed deep concerns over the mass deportation program in the United States, warning that policies based on force rather than human dignity will have negative consequences. In a letter to US bishops on Tuesday (February 11), he acknowledged the right of a nation to "defend itself and keep communities safe from those who have committed violent or serious crimes while in the country or prior to arrival."

Despite recognising national security concerns, the Pope Francis strongly criticised the mass deportations, arguing that they "damage the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families." He warned that such actions leave individuals "in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness...