Migration and Immigration
New: Voice Your Support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Contact your elected official and remind them of the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
The Jesuit Response
Participation in the Justice for Immigrants Campaign
In response to the need to reform the US immigration system, the Jesuit Conference actively participates with the the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in the Justice for Immigrants campaign; calling for comprehensive immigration reform that would:
- provide a path to legalization for the undocumented;
- provide a path to legal work for future immigrants (by increasing the number of employment visas available);
- expedite family reunification (by increasing the number of family-based visas available);
- restoring due process rights (important for the protection of refugees and others);
- focus on the development of migration sending countries.
These policy recommendations are consistent with Catholic Social Teaching’s call for dignified treatment of migrants and the authentic development of all people. They derive from basic principles of Catholic migration teaching, including that 1) all people have the right to migrate; 2) all people have the right not to migrate; 3) government’s have a right to control their own borders; 4) refugees and asylum seekers should be protected. The pastoral letter Exsul Familia (1952) states:
Since land everywhere offers the possibility of supporting a large number of people, the sovereignty of the State, although it must be respected, cannot be exaggerated to the point that access to this land is, for in adequate or unjustified reasons, denied to needy and decent people from other nations, provided of course, that the public wealth, considered very carefully, does not forbid this. (n.30)
The prescriptions for policy change proposed by the Justice for Immigrants campaign would serve the common good, human dignity, and the national interest.
The Jesuit Conference invites you to become a member of Jesuit Advocates and receive action alerts and migration-related advocacy information from the Jesuit Conference and the Justice for Immigrants Campaign.
Jesuit Institutional Sign-On Initiative in Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform
The Society of Jesus’ work and ministry with immigrants and migrants in the United States has made us painfully aware that many in this community still labor in the shadows. IN June of 2010 the Jesuit Provincials took the bold step of sending a letter to the president and to each member of Congress asking them to enact comprehensive immigration reform. In order for such reform to be enacted, there needs to be a national demonstration of support. By joining the provincial leadership in this advocacy effort, Jesuit communities, ministries, institutions and Ignatian affiliated groups can demonstrate to Congress that there is a will for comprehensive reform and underscore the importance of acting now.
Jesuit communities, ministries, institutions and Ignatian affiliated groups are invited to become signatories to the attached institutional sign-on letter in support of comprehensive immigration reform by contacting outreach@jesuit.org with the subject line “immigration sign-on” and include your name and email, the name of your Jesuit community/institution/ministry/group (as you would like it identified on the statement) and postal address. Please note that only institutional/group names will appear as signatories — contact names and contact information will not be made public. More Information about the National Sign-On Effort
Local Response
Jesuit institutions, ministries, schools, parishes and communities across the United States are engaged in a wide-range of advocacy, educational, outreach and pastoral work that promotes justice for immigrants. Below are is a link to some recent descriptions that highlight how Jesuits are responding in solidarity to the needs of our migrant brothers and sisters:
Learn more about the local response efforts initiated by Jesuit entities.