Earlier this week, the Holy Father wrote to the Catholic bishops of the United States affirming their work on behalf of migrants and refugees, and offered his support, moral encouragement, and prayers. In the letter to the USCCB, Pope Francis said that deporting people who often come from difficult situations violates the “dignity of many men and women, and of entire families.”

The pope wrote that he had “followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations,” adding that any policy built on force “begins badly and will end badly.”

“As successor to Saint Peter, you call not only every Catholic, but every Christian to what unites us in faith – offering the hope of Jesus Christ to every person, citizen and immigrant alike,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB in a letter responding to Pope Francis.

“We all turn to the Lord in prayer that families suffering from the sudden withdrawal of aid may find the strength to endure. With you, we pray that the U.S. government keep its prior commitments to help those in desperate need,” he said. Archbishop Broglio closed by asking the Holy Father for his continued prayers “so that we may find the courage as a nation to build a more humane system of immigration, one that protects our communities while safeguarding the dignity of all.” 

USCCB/MRS is cosponsoring a conference with the Catholic University of America (CUA) titled “Rethinking Migration Narratives – Catholic Immigration Advocacy in 2025 and Beyond,” which will take place March 3-5, 2025 at CUA. This conference will explore the various narratives surrounding Immigration and offer a Catholic alternative to them. There is an evening event on March 3 that will share some on the ground perspectives related to this topic. March 4th is the primary conference day with a Congressional advocacy day taking place on the 5th. If you plan to participate in the advocacy day, please register for the conference by COB, Friday, February 21. Here is a link to the registration page, with further information available about the various workshops: law.edu/immigration.

We hope to see you at the conference!

New/Recent Policy Resources:

The following resources have been released by USCCB/MRS in recent days:

• NEW: Summary of Initial Migration-Related Executive Actions of the Second Trump Administration
• NEW: Explainer on The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and the Catholic Church
• UPDATED: Explainer on Immigration Enforcement and Protected Areas 
• Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform

These and other resources from USCCB/MRS Policy and Advocacy are available and will be updated at usccb.org/migrationpolicy.

Q & A - Responding to Immigration Enforcement Efforts

As the new administration engages in increased immigration enforcement efforts, it is important that communities across the country be able to respond. This new resource includes information in reference to know your rights, standby guardianship, sensitive locations, rapid response efforts, and related topics. It aims at providing a consolidated resource for people seeking resources pertinent to this issue.  It is available in both English and Spanish.

New and Updated JFI Resources

Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform: For decades, the Catholic bishops of the United States have been consistent and steadfast in their calls for a just reform of the nation’s immigration system. The elements of reform articulated below are grounded in Catholic social teaching generally and the Church’s teaching on migration specifically, including the joint pastoral letter released by the American and Mexican bishops, Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope (2003).

JFI Policy Issues Page: As we move into a new administration that will likely bring new initiatives and challenges on the migration front, our new JFI page on the website will provide an opportunity to explore some of the longstanding policy positions staked out by the institutional church on this issue and updated responses to emergent policy issues.

Bishops Statements on Migration: This contains links to statements made by bishops, individually and collectively, on the topic of migration here in the United States. If your bishop has released a statement and it is not currently on our site, please give us a heads up and send a link to [email protected].

The Pray With Us video series features short reflections shared as prayer reflections designed to inspire and engage our audience. This series is an evolution of the St. Josephine Bakhita Prayer Service, a monthly gathering held on the 8th to honor St. Josephine Bakhita's Feast Day (February 8). These services focused on human trafficking and its related issues, aiming to educate and raise awareness about exploitation.

Here is the first video honoring St. Bakhita's feast day.

Also, please see the USCCB statement for the feast day of St. Bakhita.

Welcome Wednesdays

For #welcomewednesday, we showcase Laetitia and Margaret who have worked at @CCharitiesGHTX for 6 and 18 years respectively and are deeply embedded in their community. Check out the video.

JFI Video Project: Request for Submissions

We are looking to create a series of short videos (1-2 minutes each) that highlight the Church’s response to migration on the ground in various dioceses. These videos will help provide a clearer understanding of how the Church is responding to the needs of migrants, including DACA recipients, refugees, religious workers, and other migrant groups.

We are particularly interested in showcasing the work being done by diocesan leaders, ministries, and local communities, and would like to include interviews or testimonies from individuals directly affected. With respect to privacy and sensitivity, we are committed to protecting the anonymity of any participants who wish to remain anonymous.

These videos will not only highlight the Church's ongoing efforts but also bring a human face to the issue of migration and how the Church is walking alongside those in need. If you are able to assist or have any recommendations for people or stories to feature, we would greatly appreciate your support. Please reach out to Katherine Clifton, MRS' Assistant Director of Communications, if you are interested. She can help with planning, filming, and editing ([email protected]).

Policy Update /

Actualización de Política

We are thankful to the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) for its weekly Migration Update. Please visit their bilingual Migration Update page to stay up-to-date on recent migration policy updates.

View the February 12 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

• In one of her first acts, Attorney General Biondi blocks funding to sanctuary jurisdictions
• Trump orders the resettlement of White Afrikaners to the US
• Afghans who assisted the US included in refugee ban

View the January 29 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

• DHS rescinds extension of TPS for Venezuelans
• DHS halts funding to NGOs who work with immigrants
• Laken Riley Act signed into law
• Trump announces intent to send criminal aliens to Guantanamo

Recent Migration-Related Stories, Op-Eds, Videos, Social Media Posts and Interviews by Catholic Bishops, and (Arch)Dioceses and Catholic Agency Executives

Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego: Speak up against ‘war of fear and terror’

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York on his weekly radio show on the Catholic

Channel: Cardinal Dolan responds to Vice President Vance’s comments about immigration and the Catholic church

Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago:

• Setting the record straight
• I deeply appreciate the prophetic witness of Pope Francis (Vatican media radio interview)

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco: Letter on immigration

Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles: Time for immigration reform (again)

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas: The United States needs a legal immigration process that works

Archbishop Charles Thompson of Indianapolis: Statement on Immigrants and Refugees

Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami:

• Bringing clarity, context to the U.S. bishops’ stance in immigration debate
• The World Over | Trump, USCCB & Immigration: Abp. Wenski with Raymond Arroyo

Bishop Oscar Cantú of San Jose: Witness to Mercy: The Vital Work of Catholic Relief Services

Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend: Freedom of Worship for Migrants

Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington: A Pastoral Statement on American Immigration Law and the Catholic Imperative of Upholding Human Dignity and the Common Good

North Carolina Catholic Bishops joint statement: Immigration is ‘a moral concern’ affecting dignity and human rights

Catholic Bishops of Arizona: Statement on Recent Immigration Issues

Catholic Bishops of Michigan: A Pastoral Note to Migrants

Minnesota Catholic Bishops: Statement on Immigration Law and the Common Good of the Nation

Wisconsin Catholic Bishops: Pastoral Statement on Immigration

Carolyn Woo, former Executive Director – CRS: I led Catholic Relief Services. I’ve seen USAID projects change lives

John Lavenburg, The Crux, Bishop Seitz responds to Vance on immigration: ‘he clearly doesn’t know me’

National Catholic Reporter Editorial: Silence in the face of Trump's cruelty is complicity

Notable New Publications, Reports, Resources, Articles, Etc.

Migration Policy Institute Explainer: How ICE Identifies, Arrests & Deports Removable Noncitizens from the U.S. Interior

While attention to federal immigration enforcement has long focused chiefly on operations at U.S. borders, significant activity also takes place within the U.S. interior. This new explainer from the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) examines the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), detailing how the agency identifies, arrests, detains and deports noncitizens in the U.S. interior who have violated immigration laws.