During the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees Mass celebrated on Sept. 28 in Washington, D.C., Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, called on the Church to stand in solidarity with the men and women whose lives are being upended by the U.S. Government’s immigration policies. 

“We are confronting – both as a nation and as a Church – an unprecedented assault upon millions of immigrant men and women and families in our midst,” he said during his homily. “Our first obligation as a Church is to embrace in a sustained, unwavering, prophetic and compassionate way the immigrants who are suffering so deeply because of the oppression they are facing.” 

Read his homily in its entirety in English and Spanish on the Archdiocese’s website.  

As Franciscans, we know that the U.S. immigration system has—for too long—needed significant changes and updating. However, the direction being taken by the new administration is, we believe, causing more harm than good—such as tearing families apart, moving us toward a police state, sowing fear, chaos and confusion among the many hard-working and law-abiding immigrants who have been part of our communities for so many years, and inviting further demonization of immigrants. 

Reiterating the statement released by the Provincial Council of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe in January, we urge Congress and the Administration to: 

• Oppose mass deportation as the means to achieve needed and effective immigration reform 

• Support orderly border management that is humane, proportional and respects the right to seek asylum 

• Reject non-emergency immigration enforcement in schools, places of worship, social service agencies and healthcare facilities 

• Take action to protect the “dreamers,” those brought to the U.S. as children who have lived here most of their lives 

• Endorse efforts to protect vulnerable groups through such programs as TPS, DED, humanitarian parole and the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program 

• Denounce anti-immigrant rhetoric that has no basis in truth 

As a nation, let us choose a path forward that effectively secures our borders, even as it protects the dignity of all who come to our shores, through an immigration system governed by mercy and justice.