COAR - Immmigration

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Immigration Resources

sponsored by:
US Conference of Catholic (USCC) Bishops

"every man and woman may be regarded as brothers and sisters, children of the same Father" — Pope Benedict XVI

A collection of USCC Bishops' initiatives:

Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. . . advocates for comprehensive immigration reform. Its focus is on reunification of families and protection of those fleeing persecution or civil unrest.

Catholic Relief Services . . . creates opportunities for Catholics in the United States to live their faith in solidarity with poor people overseas by providing financial support and addressing the root causes of poverty.

Migration and Refugee Services . . . annually resettles one quarter of the refugees admitted to the United States, serves victims of human trafficking, and provides advocacy for and pastoral care to many newcomers and persons on the move.

Justice, Peace, and Human Development office . . . advocates for poor and vulnerable people and for international peace and justice. It works to build the capacity of the Church to respond to global concerns such as religious freedom, poverty, and hunger.

The Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church (SCDC) . . . the evangelization and pastoral care of immigrants, migrants, refugees, and people on the move. The SCDC supports a network of national pastoral centers, pastoral consultants, and diocesan personnel who minister to various ethnic groups and migrant communities.

USCCB – Migration and the Catholic Response
(click)

Chronicling Latinos' diverse experiences in a changing America

Latin American Immigration to the US

Immigration is one of the more talked about issues in our country today. In 2007, the Center for Immigration Studies estimated that the immigrant population (both legal and illegal) had reached 37.9 million, accounting for one in eight of every U.S. residents. It is impossible to deny that this shift will have a major impact on the country.

Immigration has grown especially within the Latin American community. According to current population projections from the U.S. Census Bureau, our country will grow to over 400 million people by 2050, with nearly 25 percent of that being made up of people from Hispanic origins. If this estimation were to ring true, those from Hispanic decent would become the largest minority group in country, having more people than nearly all other minority groups combined. Currently, Salvadorans are the fourth largest Hispanic group represented, with nearly 1.5 million people living in the United States. The growth of immigrants from Latin America has given many of those people opportunities for success that were not available in their home countries.

The Catholic Church knows personally the struggles of migrating to the United States and has historically had a strong interest in the issue. The Church strives to protect to dignity of the poor and marginalized members of society. It is with this in mind that they feel current immigration policy has failed with regards to maintaining human dignity. The Church does not condone illegal immigration, but recognizes that the current system is partially to blame. Those with legal resident family in the United States can still wait years before receiving a visa. Border enforcement has proven to be ineffective under the current strategy and has caused the death of many migrants. People fleeing to the United States seeking asylum from tragedy or persecution are treated as criminals. The Church recognizes these struggles and seeks to have policy put in place that can work more efficiently and be more respectful to the human condition.

The Catholic Church around the world works to help protect people from poverty and injustice so they can live a life of opportunity in their own country. However, it is an economic reality that the United States needs foreign labor to keep up with its demands. As many of our ancestors know, migration to the United States provides unique opportunities for freedom economically and socially that cannot be matched in other parts of the world. It is our duty as U.S. citizens to accept the reality and importance of immigration in our country and our duty as Catholics to seek a safe and legal means for people to immigrate in order to maintain human dignity and protect the vulnerable.