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Bishops on Both Sides of the Border Call for Immigration Reform and Compassion

The U.S. immigration crisis continues to be a pressing issue, and Catholic bishops along the Texas-Mexico border are stepping up to affirm their support for the common good and demand reform of the broken U.S. immigration system.

During a biannual meeting held from February 26-28 at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, bishops from both sides of the border convened to discuss their shared mission, with a particular focus on the "situation of migrants and refugees." This year's gathering took on heightened relevance given the new federal administrations in both the U.S. and Mexico.

Bishop Eugenio Andrés Lira Rugarcía of Matamoros-Reynosa, Mexico, and Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, jointly addressed the assembly, outlining a "pastoral response to the current migration crisis from the border."

In their statement, the bishops emphasized the Catholic Church's long-standing commitment to supporting vulnerable populations. "We want to make it clear that the Catholic Church has always been a reliable partner of our governments, of our peoples and especially of all those in need, through processes to welcome, protect, promote and integrate the vulnerable," they declared.

This declaration comes at a time when the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been actively challenging the Trump administration's immigration policies. The USCCB filed suit against the administration for abruptly suspending and then terminating its refugee resettlement contract, a move that significantly impacted the ability to provide essential services to refugees. Furthermore, the administration's efforts to strip federal funds from organizations like Catholic Charities, which provide crucial humanitarian aid to immigrants, have been met with legal challenges.

The bishops' statement addressed the need for a balanced approach to immigration, stating, "We are all together responsible in promoting the common good, simultaneously safeguarding the dignity of all by finding the right balance between various human rights, such as the right of workers and their families to have their situation regularized, the right not to be exploited, the right to migrate, the right not to need to migrate, and the right of all to have their government guarantee security in their own country."

They also reiterated their long-standing call for comprehensive immigration reform. "For decades, we have expressed our concern that in the United States we have a broken immigration system, which does not correspond to the present reality. We hope and strongly urge our political leaders to fulfill their duty to reform it," they asserted.

Addressing migrants and refugees directly, the bishops offered a message of support and solidarity: "To our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters, we want to say that the Church and its agencies remain committed to the mission of announcing the Gospel, providing living witness to the charity of the Lord Jesus by serving all people with dignity and compassion."

The bishops drew inspiration from Pope Francis's call to emulate the Good Samaritan, emphasizing the universal call to compassion and service. Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio highlighted the Pope's encouragement to "continue doing all in our possibilities to support migrants and refugees," treating them with the dignity they deserve.

Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, stressed the importance of spiritual support and community accompaniment for immigrants facing fear and insecurity.

In a continuation of this support, a "National Novena for Migrants and Immigrants" will be held online from March 14-22, led by a group of U.S. bishops, including Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago and Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey. This nine-day Lenten prayer service, organized by the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, aims to foster solidarity and remind people of the dignity of migrants and the Christian duty to welcome the stranger.

These actions by Catholic leaders underscore the ongoing commitment to advocating for humane and just immigration policies, and to providing vital support to those affected by the current crisis.

 

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