A group of Catholic bishops and Latino evangelical leaders is urging the Senate to reject a sweeping legislative package backed by former President Donald Trump, warning that its impact on immigration, poverty, and artificial intelligence could harm vulnerable communities and erode civil liberties.

According to the Christian Post, More than 40 senior religious leaders signed a letter condemning the "One Big Beautiful Bill" for expanding deportations, cutting aid programs, and preempting states from regulating artificial intelligence.

The bill, officially called H.R.1, cleared the U.S. House of Representatives in May by a Republican majority and was narrowly advanced for debate in the Senate on Saturday with a 51-49 vote.

Faith Leaders Join Forces to Challenge Legislation

In a joint letter to the Senate, notable clergy, including Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C., and the Rev. Gabriel Salguero of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, urged lawmakers to oppose the measure.

The religious coalition said the bill's provisions would separate immigrant families and endanger people of faith by removing protections at religious sites during immigration enforcement.

They noted that the Department of Homeland Security no longer designates churches and other houses of worship as off-limits for raids, an omission that has already discouraged some worshipers from attending services.

Critics Say Families and Churches at Risk

The letter accused the bill of funneling billions toward a nationwide deportation initiative and expanding physical barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border, policies they say would increase harm to asylum seekers.

According to the signatories, these actions jeopardize both human rights and religious expression. Concerns were raised that immigrant families might be too afraid to enter church buildings or benefit from community services.

In addition to its immigration policies, the bill proposes cuts to health care and nutrition assistance programs, which the faith leaders argue would severely impact low-income citizens and legal residents alike.

Bill Includes Controversial AI Freeze

Section 43201 of the legislation imposes a 10-year moratorium on any state or local regulation of artificial intelligence systems, overriding the ability of states to set their safeguards.

Supporters of this provision contend that a cohesive national policy is essential to prevent inconsistent state laws that could hinder technological growth.

However, critics from both parties have warned that the measure removes critical oversight and undermines state authority over emerging technologies.

Some Republicans Have Withdrawn Support

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, initially a vocal supporter of the bill, reversed her stance after learning about the AI ban, citing concerns over unchecked technological expansion and state rights.

The Georgia congresswoman said allowing artificial intelligence to grow without state-level boundaries is “potentially dangerous,” given its unpredictable evolution over the next decade.

In the House, only two Republicans—Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio voted against the bill; in the Senate, only Sens. Rand Paul and Thom Tillis opposed the call for debate.

Federal Funding Raises Ethical Questions

The bill also dedicates $500 million over the next decade to modernize government IT systems using artificial intelligence, a move that could benefit private contractors such as Palantir Technologies.

Palantir, known for its work with federal agencies, has already secured over $113 million in government contracts this year alone and has longstanding ties to the Trump administration.

Earlier this year, the company received a $480 million U.S. Army deal for its Maven Smart System, and in May, a $795 million contract from the Department of Defense.

Concerns Over Surveillance and Oversight

Civil liberties advocates fear that Trump’s March executive order, which directs agencies to expand data-sharing, could pave the way for a nationwide surveillance regime fueled by AI tools.

The New York Times reported that Peter Thiel, Palantir’s founder and a Trump ally, has played a strategic role in shaping the administration’s AI agenda.

Thirteen former Palantir employees recently issued a public warning about the company’s actions, arguing that the push for AI integration risks promoting authoritarian governance masked as technological progress.