Immigration

Solidarity invites us to see immigrants through the lens of our common dignity as members of the human community. We are challenged to overcome the often volatile rhetoric of political parties and media frenzies to look at what our faith tells us about the situation. When we come to understand what motivates people to leave behind their homelands and their heritage to come to the United States, we learn that they are looking for the same things we are: peace, security, opportunity, education, and stability.

IMMIGRATION REFORM

Background

The current immigration system is undoubtedly flawed. Ineffective border enforcement strategies have contributed to numerous deaths, many immigrants have been forced to live in an unauthorized capacity, and family members of lawful permanent residents have been required to wait years for reunion. Overall, there is a pressing need to balance the interests of border security with the interests of people seeking a better life in the United States.

A humane immigration policy must reconcile competing interests. It must not excuse unlawful entry or circumventions of immigration laws, but it must respond to the realities of separated families and growing labor demands. A promising approach is a comprehensive system of immigration that upholds the dignity of those transferring to a new country, while also including some border enforcement measures.

The Catholic Perspective

According to section 2241 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, there are two major duties with regards to immigration. The first duty is to welcome the foreigner out of charity and respect for the human person. People have the right to immigrate when needed and governments must accommodate this right as best as possible. The second duty is to secure the border of a nation and enact laws for the sake of the common good. Good government has the right to enforce laws and all people must obey the legitimate laws established by the government.

The Catholic Church in the United States is characteristically an immigrant Church, with a long history of embracing diverse newcomers and providing assistance and pastoral care. Catholics have an explicit moral obligation to “welcome the stranger” (see Matt. 25:31-46) and treat them with proper dignity. This is the guiding principle for immigration reform.

In their pastoral letter Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity, the U.S. Catholic Bishops declare:

In this context of opportunity and challenge that is the new immigration, we bishops of the United States reaffirm the commitment of the Church, in the words of Pope John Paul II, to work “so that every person’s dignity is respected, the immigrant is welcomed as a brother or sister, and all humanity forms a united family which knows how to appreciate with discernment the different cultures which comprise it” (Message for World Migration Day 2000, no. 5). We call upon all people of good will, but Catholics especially, to welcome the newcomers in their neighborhoods and schools, in their places of work and worship, with heartfelt hospitality, openness, and eagerness both to help and to learn from our brothers and sisters, of whatever race, religion, ethnicity, or background.

How You Can Help

Get Informed

Support Catholic initiatives to welcome immigrants

Contact government representatives 

Welcome immigrants into the community

  • Host social events at homes and parishes
  • Parish activities to help immigrants and those on the move

Consider making a monetary contribution

Prayer

We must pray especially for migrant families who are caught in the midst of immigration reform.

Good and gracious God,
we thank you for the gift of families.
We are grateful for all of the joy and love
that they bring into our lives, and we ask
that you provide special protection for all
families, particularly those who face
hardships as they move in search of a
better life.

Show mercy to those who travel in
danger, and lead them to a place of safety
and peace. Comfort those who are alone
and afraid because their families have been
torn apart by violence and injustice.

As we reflect upon the difficult journey
that the Holy Family faced as refugees in
Egypt, help us to remember the suffering of
all migrant families. Through the
intercession of Mary our Mother, and
St. Joseph the Worker, her spouse, we pray
that all migrants may be reunited with their
loved ones and find the meaningful work
they seek.

Open our hearts so that we may provide
hospitality for all who come in search of
refuge. Give us the courage to welcome
every stranger as Christ in our midst. We
ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your
Son, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Amen.

Download the prayer card

GOSPEL OF LIFE CURRICULUM

PK, TK and Kindergarten Lesson Plan

Students will be introduced to the concept of a Christian community based on Gospel principles. Through activities, they will come to understand that getting to know someone helps to learn to love them.

Grades PK-K – Immigration Lesson Plan – Oct

Grades PK-K – Immigration Lesson Plan – Jan

Grades 1-3 Lesson Plan

Students will be introduced to the concept of a Christian community based on Gospel principles. Through activities, they will come to understand that getting to know someone helps to learn to love them.

Grades 1-3 – Immigration Lesson Plan – Oct

Grades 1-3 – Immigration Lesson Plan – Jan

Resources

Grades 4-6 Lesson Plan

Students will be introduced to the concept of a Christian community based on Gospel principles. They will be introduced to stories of welcoming others and kindness to strangers as a direct outcome of lived faith.

Grades 4-6 – Immigration Lesson Plan – Oct

Grades 4-6 – Immigration Lesson Plan – Jan

Resources

Grades 7-9 Lesson Plan

Students will learn what true mercy looks like. Pope Francis calls us to a culture of encounter, to recognize the dignity in the person in front of us. This encounter leads us to action on their behalf by serving others through works of mercy. Christ has called us to go and make disciples of all nations and in a special way to give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, and bury the dead. In so doing, our hearts change and we learn to be merciful as the Heavenly Father is merciful.

Grades 7-9 – Immigration Lesson Plan – Oct

Grades 7-9 – Immigration Lesson Plan – Jan

Resources

Grades 10-12 Student Handout

Students will learn that humans are meant for community, which means loving other people and treating them with respect both in theory and in reality. What does this look like in our culture? We explore the topic of immigration through the lens of building a Christian community.

Grades 10-12 Handout – Immigration

Questions for Discussion

• What is at the root of most social problems?

• What is it about the way humans are made that make us better together?

• How would you describe solidarity? Can you give an example of a time that you practiced solidarity with someone in need?

• Why is our immigration system in the United States broken?

• What are some of the most important issues of the immigration debate?

• Choose one issue, one point of debate, and apply both justice and mercy principles. Which is most compelling? Do the rights of the state outweigh the needs of the individual/family? Or vice versa?

• Good people can disagree on how to fix immigration in the U.S.. But, what is our moral obligation toward all people, whether we know them or they are strangers?

Resources