Silent Voices, Big Truths lifts up often unheard voices from immigrant communities through short reflections that invite us to encounter truth through the lived experiences of our neighbors.
We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident…
…That the dignity and rights we celebrate as a nation belong to every person, including those seeking refuge and a place to belong.
As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, we offer this issue of Silent Voices, Big Truths to bring humanity to the issue of immigration. It is our hope that by reading these stories and quotes you will learn about the real people and real lives of those living at the margins. Through the Dominican lens of Veritas (Truth) we are invited to reflect on what these stories reveal about our values right now.
Many immigrants have built lives in the United States through legal humanitarian programs such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), humanitarian parole, and other temporary protections. They have worked, paid taxes, raised families, and became part of their communities.
BIG TRUTHS
Today, many face vulnerable people face uncertainty as these protections are withdrawn or challenged. Families worry about losing the ability to work, being separated from loved ones, or returning to countries still experiencing violence or humanitarian crises. Approximately 330,000 Haitians currently rely on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) (Springfield News Sun). Many work in health care, elder care, construction, tourism, and hospitality, contributing billions of dollars annually to local and state economies. This uncertainty affects not only immigrant families but also the communities they help strengthen.
The big truth is this: No one should have to live in constant fear about whether they will be allowed to remain with their family, continue their work, or call their community home.
We Pray
Loving God,
We pray for immigrants whose lives are shaped by changes in our nation’s immigration policies. Hold close those who face uncertainty about their legal status, their ability to work, and their future in the communities they have come to call home.
Guide us to build communities rooted in compassion, justice, and welcome. May we recognize each person as a beloved child of God and respond with courage, mercy, and love.
Amen.
Calls to Action
Support S. 4814 to Stand with Haitian Families:
On June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court allowed the federal government to proceed with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals while legal proceedings continue in the lower courts. The Department of Homeland Security may now begin terminating TPS protections and work authorization for eligible Haitians.
Haiti is facing a humanitarian catastrophe. Forcibly returning thousands of families to Haiti now would not only endanger their lives but would further destabilize Haiti.
Contact your Senators. Urge them to support S. 4814 – legislation requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to extend Haiti’s TPS designation through 2029. The bill already passed the House in March 2026.
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