“Our nations have a singular opportunity to act as true neighbors and to work together to build a more just and generous immigration system.” (USSCB, 2004)

Immigration justice is a central theme in the Catholic tradition.  Up to and including his latest encyclical, Pope Francis has spoken often and with great clarity on the importance of welcoming the stranger.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has released several guiding documents on our shared responsibility to care for migrants and refugees; it has resoundingly denounced recent policy shifts related to the worsening situation on the border.  Thought leaders like Sr. Norma Pimentel, Fr. James Martin, and others consistently point to the ways in which current US policy is antithetical to the Church’s pro-life commitment.     

Despite the clarity of Church teaching on immigration, there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding among Catholics about how our faith compels us to respond.  This is because immigration (and in particular the current situation on our southern border) is wildly complex and hotly-debated.  It can be hard to separate fact from rhetoric. 

This page not intended to be exhaustive, but is designed to get you started in “sharing the journey” with our immigrant brothers and sisters.  It includes articles, writings, films, podcasts, books, speeches, artistic depictions, and actions you can take.  Please share other resources with us that you have come across and found helpful. We are all together in this sacred work of building a beloved community.          

Members of the CFJ community have been to McAllen, TX and Brownsville, TX/Matamoros, Mexico to aid in the humanitarian efforts of Catholic Charities, Rio Grande Valley and Team Brownsville. You can read about their experience in McAllen here and Brownsville/Matamoros here.               

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