Over the latest crisis regarding immigration, I have often heard “Where is the Catholic Church? Why isn’t it speaking out?” I’d like to pose another question: “Where are the Catholics? Why aren’t they listening?”
These resources are designed to help discover the outspoken Catholic voices in the midst of our immigration crisis beginning with Pope Francis.
Statement From the Vatican, 10 February 2025
For the complete text: Pope Francis Immigration
In a letter dated 10 February 2025, Pope Francis acknowledges the work of U.S. bishops in standing alongside migrants and refugees, he expresses support for efforts to uphold the fundamental dignity of every human person and he highlights the importance of pastoral accompaniment for those facing displacement.
In his 10-point letter, the Holy Father says he has “followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations” and commends the bishops’ efforts stressing that Christian love demands recognition of the dignity of all people, regardless of legal status.
Since taking office on 20 January, President Donald Trump has announced a series of immigration-related executive orders that pave the way for a widespread effort to crack down on undocumented migrants in the US. In more than 21 actions, Trump has moved to overhaul parts of the US immigration system, including how migrants are processed and deported from the US.
The Pope acknowledges the complex realities surrounding U.S. migration policies but reminds the bishops that the measure of a just society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.
“The legitimate regulation of migration must never undermine the essential dignity of the person,” he writes.
The Pope also expresses appreciation for the bishops’ advocacy against narratives that criminalize migrants and emphasizes their role in ensuring that policies respect human rights. “God will richly reward all that you do for the protection and defence of those who are considered less valuable, less important, or less human,” he says.
In light of the current challenges, Pope Francis urges the bishops to remain steadfast in their work, and despite the obstacles they face, including social and political pressures, he encourages them to continue promoting solidarity and compassion. “Your pastoral ministry is a beacon of hope for many who feel abandoned and excluded,” he states.
US Catholic bishops sue Trump administration for halt in funding for refugee settlement
Source: Associated Press 2/20/25 Rebecca Blackwell Read article
Catholic bishops sued the Trump administration over its abrupt halt to funding of refugee resettlement, calling the action unlawful and harmful to newly arrived refugees and to the nation’s largest private resettlement program.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops says the administration, by withholding millions even for reimbursements of costs incurred before the sudden cut-off of funding, violates various laws as well as the constitutional provision giving the power of the purse to Congress, which already approved the funding.
The conference’s Migration and Refugee Services has sent layoff notices to 50 workers, more than half its staff, with additional cuts expected in local Catholic Charities offices that partner with the national office, the lawsuit said.
“The Catholic Church always works to uphold the common good of all and promote the dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable among us,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB. “That includes the unborn, the poor, the stranger, the elderly and infirm, and migrants.” The funding suspension prevents the church from doing so, he said. “The conference suddenly finds itself unable to sustain its work to care for the thousands of refugees who were welcomed into our country and assigned to the care of the USCCB by the government after being granted legal status,” Broglio said.
The conference is one of 10 national agencies, most of them faith-based, that serve refugees and that have been sent scrambling since receiving a Jan. 24 State Department letter informing them of an immediate suspension of funding pending a review of foreign-aid programs.
The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, notes that the resettlement program isn’t even foreign aid. It’s a domestic program to help newly arrived refugees — who arrive legally after being vetted overseas — meet initial needs such as housing and job placement.
“USCCB spends more on refugee resettlement each year than it receives in funding from the federal government, but it cannot sustain its programs without the millions in federal funding that provide the foundation of this private-public partnership,” the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit names the departments of State and Health and Human Services as well as their respective secretaries, Marco Rubio and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Both departments have roles in delegating resettlement work to the bishops conference.
As of Jan. 25, it said, there were 6,758 refugees assigned by the government to USCCB’s care that had been in the country less than 90 days, the period of time for which they’re eligible for resettlement aid. The conference said suspending the resettlement effort will only prolong the time it takes for refugees to find employment and become self-sufficient.
Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, recently accused the bishops conference for resettling “illegal immigrants” in order to get millions in federal funding — an apparent reference to the resettlement program, which involves legally approved refugees. The lawsuit noted that federal reimbursements don’t cover the entire cost of the program and that in 2023 the conference paid $4 million more than it received, while additional donors supported resettlement efforts by local Catholic Charities and other recipients.
View Lawsuit USCCB Lawsuit on Unlawful Suspension of U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
More U.S. Catholic Bishop Statements:
- In the wake of the recent US election, Catholic bishops from across the country have reiterated their support for vulnerable migrant populations. Below is a list of such statements for the sake of easy reference; more will be added as they become available. View at https://justiceforimmigrants.org/bishop-statements-on-immigration/
- On February 28, 2025, Cardinal Robert McElroy, the former bishop of the Diocese of San Diego, spoke at a news conference, calling for compassion in immigration policy as he prepares to lead the Catholic Church in Washington. Watch news conference 28 min mark
“Catholic teaching says a country has a right to control its borders. That’s true in Catholic teaching, and that’s a legitimate objective to pursue, so long as it’s done with dignity for people,” McElroy said, according to NBC. “But what’s going on now is a wider cultural attack upon all those who are undocumented, those who came to this country without proper papers, many of them fleeing persecution or violence, many in terrible economic situations.”
~ Cardinal Robert McElroy
- Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity
Statement from USCCB November 15, 2000
https://www.usccb.org/committees/pastoral-care-migrants-refugees-travelers/welcoming-stranger-among-us-unity-diversity
