Fact: the U.S. immigration system is broken. No matter where you stand on the issue of immigration and how you think things should work, it’s broken. It’s been broken for many years, and Congress – the institution who has the power to fix it – has not done so. The Catholic Church has for years pleaded with Congress to make changes that will honor the dignity of everyone involved – citizen of the U.S., folks on border communities, folks fleeing from their homes, and countries from which people are fleeing – but it has largely been to no avail. (To learn more, check out https://justiceforimmigrants.org/learn/immigration-reform-and-the-church/. To see the U.S. bishops most recent statement, check out https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/we-stand-firm-solidarity-our-immigrant-brothers-and-sisters.)
Fact: there are many, many people in the immigrant and refugee communities – as well as people who work in those spaces – who are nervous about what might happen in the coming years. As Pope Francis recently said, “migrants often flee from oppression, abuse, insecurity, discrimination, and lack of opportunities for development,” and our country continues to do a poor job of welcoming these people who have traveled great distances to escape these atrocities. (https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/migration/documents/20240524-world-migrants-day-2024.html) With all of the bluster and political rhetoric swirling around, it’s important to remember that we’re talking about real people – sisters and brothers in Christ – who deserve the chance to receive God’s blessings and be treated with dignity and respect.
The first week of December, a small team from the Archdiocese and Catholic Charities had the opportunity to travel down to El Paso, TX and spend time with the community down there. Visiting organizations both in El Paso and in their neighbor city Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, we encountered amazing people doing God’s work: providing hospitality, supporting children, building community, offering legal assistance, meeting basic needs, and working together to honor the dignity of each and every person. There is quite a lot of uncertainty about what the future might hold, but what is known is that these brave and dedicated people will continue to love their neighbors without hesitation or limit.
Time will tell how we can best support immigrants, refugees, and those who work with them, but we can always use more help. If you’re interested in getting involved in this life-saving and life-affirming work, please reach out to Andrew Musgrave, amusgrave@catholicaoc.org, in the Catholic Social Action Office.
