We are called to welcome the stranger.
Columban missionaries serve migrants and refugees in a dozen countries throughout Asia Pacific and the Americas, as well as on the U.S. – Mexico border. Keeping in mind the Gospel mandate and our Catholic Social Teaching, we strive to “welcome the stranger” and to protect and promote the rights of migrants and refugees everywhere.
As Columbans, we believe we are called to both serve the needs of migrants and to address the root causes of migration.
We advocate for action on root causes of migration.
In 2015, the number of migrants internationally reached 244 million, including 20 million refugees (UN Migration). These include economic migrants compelled to move to feed their families, refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing persecution and environmental crises, and victims of human trafficking.
We recognize the right to migrate in order to seek both safety and a higher quality of life, but often global economic policies, environmental crises, and conflicts result in grave inequalities and unstable conditions forcing people to move. As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has recognized, “all peoples have the right to conditions worthy of human life and, if these conditions are not present, the right to migrate.”
We advocate for compassionate immigration reform.
Columbans respond to the harsh realities that migrants face, including separation from their families and imprisonment in detention centers and jails. Compassionate immigration reform is necessary to ensure family unity, protect the rights and dignity of migrants, and heal our communities.
On the U.S. – Mexico Border, countless migrants have risked death and deportation to cross into the U.S. in order to flee the violence and instability in their home countries. In the midst of a destructive militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border, Columbans call for a more compassionate border policy that affirms the dignity of migrants and celebrates the vibrancy and importance of border communities which continue to welcome our migrant brothers and sisters.
We advocate for reforms to stop human trafficking.
Migrants and refugees are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. Victims of human trafficking often leave their home countries to seek better economic conditions to support their families. This too can lead to exploitation of migrants, putting them in danger of death or serious injury, sexual abuse, and low wages. As God calls us to respect the dignity of every human life, we must continue to support policies that represent the interests of migrant workers and refugees.
Migration Resources:
by Scott Wright
On September 27, Pope Francis will launch a global campaign to support migrants and refugees called “Share the Journey.” The aim of the campaign is to promote a culture of encounter with migrants and refugees, as they journey from their homes, through foreign lands in search of refuge, until they reach a final destination in a land they hope will welcome them and invite them to make a new home.
Columbans stand firmly against today’s decision from the administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
On September 05, President Trump announced an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA has allowed nearly 800 immigrant youth to work, go to school, raise a family, and flourish in the United States.
On this day in history, August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King delivered one of the most powerful addresses in U.S history at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Standing at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, and addressing a crowd of more than 200,000 people, Dr. King spoke of the moment as “the time to make justice a reality for all God’s children” and offered these famous lines: “I have a dream….” As a child, I remember hearing those words live on television.
Poverty and suffering are not legal definitions.They are human ones. In our haste to uphold the law, how many suffering people have we ignored and walked past?
Bishop Mark Seitz greeting migrants during the annual mass at the US/Mexico border
We are almost halfway through the Summer of Action!
HERE’S A QUICK RECAP:
Congress is currently working through the process of funding the federal government for the coming fiscal year. The proposals we’ve seen so far do not line up with our values of welcome, family unity, and solidarity with the vulnerable. The House of Representatives is working to vote on such a budget package THIS WEEK.
Monica and her border trip companions visiting with Jorge.
In his letter Bishop Mark Seitz reminds us that “every human being bears within him or her the image of God, which confers upon us a dignity higher than any passport or immigration status.” This applies to not only migrants but also border patrol agents, deportation agents and deported persons, judges, and lawyers. Each one of us is a child of God.
Last week in partnership with the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, we kicked off this Summer of Action to make sure the federal budget reflects our commitment to uphold the dignity of our migrant sisters and brothers. The president has already requested billions of dollars over last year’s funding for immigration enforcement, including proposals that would...
