According to a recent report by the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), titled "Raceless in Name Only," racial profiling is a common practice at several European Union borders. The study, conducted between June 2024 and December 2025, analyzed five border crossings (German-Austrian, German-Czech, Italian-French, Croatian-Slovenian, and the Basque region) and three member states (Cyprus, France, and Greece). Researchers documented numerous cases where travelers with non-European features are stopped, checked, and sometimes turned away, while people who appear "European" pass through unhindered, even without documents.
This disparity in treatment is not an aberration but seems to be part of a broader system shaped by "colonial continuities and racial hierarchies," as the report states. The testimonies collected are dramatic: a Gambian citizen, resident in Brescia and holding a residence permit under renewal, was handcuffed and arrested by French police while trying to board a bus to Marseille. "The French police are much worse than the Italian ones," he said. "I don't intend to beg; I have a job, I have money, I just want to go on vacation. If you ask to go to the bathroom, they don't listen; they treat you like an animal."
In another episode, at the Menton-Garavan station on the French-Italian border, some Swiss travelers who had self-reported as lacking documents were let through with a simple "no problem." The only ones checked and made to get off the train were three people of African origin. These examples show how skin color and ethnic origin become implicit criteria for applying border rules.
The Christian Perspective: Every Person Is Created in God's Image
Faced with these injustices, the Christian faith offers us a lens through which to read reality. The Bible reminds us that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). This fundamental truth implies that no one can be discriminated against based on ethnicity, skin color, or origin. Saint Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, states: "There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28, ESV).
Racial profiling is not only a violation of human rights but also a sin against the dignity of the person. It denies the fundamental equality that God has established among people. As Christians, we are called to be a voice for the voiceless and to defend the rights of the weakest. The prophet Isaiah exhorts us: "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause" (Isaiah 1:17, ESV).
The Call to Justice and Mercy
The Church, as a community of faith, has the task of promoting justice and reconciliation. Pope Francis, before his passing, repeatedly denounced racism as a "virus" that hides in hearts and social structures. His successor, Pope Leo XIV, has continued this line, emphasizing the importance of welcoming the stranger as a brother. In his message for the 2025 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, he said: "We cannot close our eyes to those fleeing war, hunger, or persecution. Every person has the right to seek a dignified life, and we have the duty to offer welcome and solidarity."
The ENAR report challenges us directly: as Christian communities, what can we do to counter racial profiling? First, we must inform ourselves and raise awareness in our communities about the issue. Then, we can support organizations working for the rights of migrants and refugees. We can also pray for justice and peace at our borders. Finally, we must examine our own biases and open our hearts to the love of Christ, who calls us to see every person as a brother or sister.
Racial profiling is a wound in the body of Christ. But with God's help, we can be instruments of healing and hope. May the Holy Spirit guide us on this path of justice and mercy.
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