Immigration Archives

Catholics mobilize as deadline looms on shield for young immigrants

As a Sept. 5 deadline nears for a demand issued by ten state attorneys general to the Trump administration to scrap a law that provides protection from deportation and work permits for the children of undocumented immigrants, Catholic leaders across the country are mobilizing in defense of DACA, the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” program, as well as Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

Gregory on Charlottesville: Bishops must speak, because silence is approval

Interviews

August 15, 2017

Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, the highest-ranking African-American prelate in America, said on Monday that all bishops in the country, including those who lead dioceses without tremendous racial diversity, have to speak out in the wake of Charlottesville — because, he warned, silence will be seen as approval.

Key bishop opposes Trump-backed push to slash legal immigration

President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled a proposal introduced by two Senate Republicans to slash legal immigration in half, calling it necessary to protect American workers. The U.S. bishops’ key prelate on migration voiced “strong opposition,” saying the move would abandon “those setting out to build better lives, weaken family bonds, and impact the nation’s ability to respond to those in crisis.”

Deaths in smuggler’s truck ‘completely senseless,’ Texas archbishop says
- Catholic News Agency, Church in the US
- July 24, 2017
After nine people died due to heat in what appeared to be an immigrant smuggler’s truck parked near a Walmart in San Antonio, Catholic leaders speak up against what they are calling “an incomprehensible tragedy.” The local archbishop expressed hope that this might call people not only to tears, but to action.
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Aquila: Parishes inoculate Catholics against anti-immigrant blowback
- Interviews
- July 12, 2017
Given the mushrooming presence of undocumented immigrants in Colorado, one might think church leaders risk extra blowback when they speak out on immigrant rights. Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver, however, says there’s precious little, in part because Catholics see these immigrants in their parishes and know they’re almost all “really good people.”
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Callahan: Want to slow immigration? Invest in helping people stay home
- Interviews
- July 11, 2017
Sean Callahan, CEO of Catholic Relief Services, the official overseas humanitarian and development assistance arm of the U.S. bishops, has a potentially surprising card to play in defense of federal spending on helping other countries: Do it, he said, and you’ll find that keeping undocumented immigrants out of the U.S. becomes a whole lot easier … don’t do it, and it won’t really matter what walls you try to put up.
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