{"id":19141,"date":"2025-01-31T17:16:26","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T17:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ofmjpic.org\/?p=19141"},"modified":"2025-01-31T17:18:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T17:18:48","slug":"protecting-the-dignity-of-all-a-statement-on-the-drastic-changes-to-u-s-immigration-law-and-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ofmjpic.org\/en\/protecting-the-dignity-of-all-a-statement-on-the-drastic-changes-to-u-s-immigration-law-and-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting the dignity of all: A statement on the drastic changes to U.S. immigration law and policy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Provincial Council of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe is responding to the changes to U.S. Immigration Law and Policy and to the mass deportations happening across the country. They are asking for a just and compassionate approach in protecting the dignity of all. This response aligns with their year-long\u00a0Franciscan Synod<\/a>, which concluded in January, in which they have recommitted themselves to responding to the Gospel\u2019s call to care for the needs of the poor, marginalized, vulnerable persons, and our common home.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

As Catholic Christians in the Franciscan tradition we add our voices to countless other Church and public leaders who are deeply troubled by, and opposed to, the drastic changes to U.S. immigration law and policy contained in the executive orders and proclamations issued by the new administration last week. As we understand them, they seek to effectuate \u201cthe largest deportation program in American history,\u201d to end refugee resettlement, to revoke humanitarian parole grants and to end birthright citizenship. Such a course of action, we believe, will result in severe and unnecessary negative consequences that will harm the most vulnerable among us.<\/p>\n

Our opposition is based in our Judeo-Christian faith tradition which, from the Hebrew Scriptures, through the Christian Scriptures, and down to the most recent papal and Church statements, call us to welcome the stranger and to exercise justice and compassion when responding to those who are vulnerable. Catholic social teaching demands that we recognize that all human beings are created in the image of God and therefore possess an inherent and inalienable dignity and respect. The human rights that flow from the dignity of each human person include the right to migrate in the face of severe violence or desperate poverty.<\/p>\n

While we agree that the U.S. immigration system has\u2014for too long\u2014needed significant changes and updating, the direction being taken by the new administration will, we believe, cause more harm than good\u2014such 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.<\/p>\n

Therefore, with many religious communities in the United States, we urge Congress and the Administration to:<\/p>\n