U.S. Bishop Mons. Barron Faces Strong Criticism for Urging Hispanic Catholics to Resist «Americanization»

 Bishop Robert Barron, of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota, has sparked controversy with a video resurfaced from four years ago in which he advises Hispanics to resist the «Americanization» of their Catholic faith.

This message, which highlights the religious vitality of immigrants from Mexico and Hispanic America, has been interpreted by critics as a rejection of «cultural integration», at a time when the country is dealing with the presence of millions of illegal immigrants and the Donald Trump administration is pushing deportations of illegal criminals.

The video, titled «The Vibrant Faith of Hispanic people from Central and South America», was originally published on YouTube by Bishop Robert Barron’s channel, which has over 2.87 million subscribers.

In it, Barron emphasizes how Hispanics bring a «dynamic faith» practiced publicly, contrasting it with the «American style» that reduces religion to the private sphere, eventually leading to the loss of faith.

«That is why I always tell Hispanics to resist, to resist this Americanization,» he states, adding that Americans should allow themselves to be «challenged» by that vitality.

Barron stresses that Hispanics should not adapt to American individualism, but rather evangelize from their cultural heritage, reversing the traditional approach of «helping» immigrants so that they «help» the local Church.

Uncontrolled immigration has raised concerns about the preservation of American culture, with states such as Texas, California, and New York implementing bilingual schools for the children of immigrants.

Barron, known for his media ministry through Word on Fire, has recently criticized ICE raids (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), arguing that they should be limited to «serious criminals» and that protesters must «stop interfering» with the authorities.

These statements by Barron highlight tensions within the U.S. Catholic Church regarding how to balance welcoming immigrants with preserving national identity and the Catholic faith.

Immigration in any country must be controlled and legal; in this case, it is clear that immigrants must fully submit to the laws of the United States, enter in an orderly manner, respect the norms of the host country, and not be criminals.

Illegal immigration, on the contrary, violates the rule of law and can overburden public resources, as reports from the Center for Immigration Studies document impacts on budgets, housing, and social cohesion resulting from unauthorized entries.

Barron defends the religious contribution of Hispanics as a vital «injection of faithful» for declining parishes, highlighting their dynamic and public faith in contrast to American secularism, which often leads to the privatization and loss of faith across generations.

Critics point out that his call to resist assimilation might overlook how many immigrants adopt secular values such as relativism and individualism, phenomena observed in trends of Catholic faith in the U.S. Barron has maintained a nuanced stance on migration issues.

In the Word on Fire article from April 2024, «How Should Catholics Think About the Immigration Crisis?» (written by Dr. Kody W. Cooper under the auspices of his ministry), it advocates balancing the rights of citizens—including sovereignty, security, and cultural preservation—with charitable welcome to immigrants, recognizing nations’ right to regulate migration flows and defend borders to protect the common good.

Illegal immigration is criticized as contrary to the rule of law, and prudent measures such as physical barriers, deportations of those who do not qualify for asylum (many claims are fraudulent), and prioritizing national security are supported.

Recently, in January 2026, Barron has stated that ICE actions should focus on deporting «serious criminals» and has urged protesters to «stop interfering» with the work of the authorities, defending a humane but firm application of the law that respects both the law and the dignity of persons.

This latest vision of Barron aligns with a conservative approach that prioritizes security, legal order, and responsible integration, in tune with Trump’s mandate to strengthen borders and deport those who violate the rules, without opposing legal and orderly immigration that enriches the nation… however, it does not escape criticism and multiple interpretations.