Statement from the Jesuit Conference’s Office of Justice and Ecology

Jesuit institutions across the United States serve hundreds of thousands of human persons made in the image and likeness of God — including those persons who have come to this country to seek a better life. We minister to immigrants along the southern border and celebrate the sacraments with them in our parishes and retreat houses. Our schools and universities have educated immigrants for centuries. Some of the immigration policies now under consideration would offend human dignity and impede our ability to minister to God’s people.

Prompted by the teaching of the Catholic Church and informed by the on-the-ground realities of our ministries, we urge our public officials to enact just and humane immigration policy reform. The following elements outlined by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops should guide all immigration policy decisions in order to safeguard human dignity and the common good:

• “Enforcement efforts should be targeted, proportional, and humane.” Immigration enforcement efforts should prioritize individuals who pose a threat to others, minimize reliance on detention and never utilize military personnel.

• “Humanitarian protections and due process should be ensured.” Asylum, temporary protected status and other humanitarian protections must be robust components of our immigration system. Asylum access in particular should in no way be further restricted beyond its already excessive requirements and regulations.

• “Long-time residents should have an earned pathway to citizenship.” Millions of hardworking immigrants across our country contribute to our society and economy in countless ways but lack legal status. They should be provided with an earned path to citizenship — a pro-family policy that would only strengthen our great nation.

• “Family unity should remain a cornerstone of the U.S. system.” Being pro-life and pro-family means making sure that all families can stay together. Additionally, our policies should never penalize citizens for being members of mixed-status families.

• “Legal pathways should be expanded, reliable, and efficient.” Preserving and expanding existing legal pathways to entering the U.S. will help effectively respond to geopolitical realities while promoting a safe and orderly immigration system for all.

• “The root causes of forced migration should be addressed.” To effectively reduce the number of individuals who are forced to migrate, the U.S. must work with other countries to develop policies and programs that alleviate push factors from countries of origin rather than relying on superficial solutions like deterrence and border externalization.

 The Office of Justice and Ecology stands ready to work with policymakers to develop a strong, humane and effective immigration system.

Download the statement.

The Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology engages in government relations and federal advocacy on behalf of the major superiors of the Society of Jesus.