Archbishop Hicks Stresses Border Protection and Legal Procedures in Key Remarks

Father Gerald Murray, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in New York City, described Archbishop Robert Hicks’ recent statements on national border security and due process as “welcome” during a Thursday interview.

Murray praised the new leader’s focus on the right of nations to defend their borders, noting Pope Leo’s similar emphasis. “I was very pleased that he mentioned the rights of the countries to defend their borders,” Murray said. “Pope Leo had said the same thing recently, so there is concern, and I agree with that.”

Earlier in the week, Hicks stated it is vital for the United States to protect its borders while upholding “human dignity, respect, treating each other well, and making sure that anything connected to these policies is connected to due process.” Murray emphasized that due process must be involved in every law enforcement effort, rejecting the idea that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are “agents of evil.”

Murray also highlighted the “tremendous deleterious impact” of illegal immigration on the nation, stating it is imperative to address this issue. He noted Hicks and Pope Leo share a background from suburban Chicago, though they differ in age—Pope Leo is 70 and Hicks is 58.

Murray added that Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who will remain active in New York, plans to continue his media presence and church involvement as an adopted New Yorker. “He’s not a New York native originally, but he’s become an adopted New Yorker,” Murray said. The interview underscored the continuity of Dolan’s accessibility with modern news platforms, which Murray believes should persist under Hicks.