At urging of U.S. bishops, Catholic leaders to meet on immigration
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will host an emergency meeting with prelates from Central America as well as Vatican representatives June 1 and 2 in Chicago to set forth a path for the U.S. church’s response to immigration.
Spanish bishops denounce exploitation of migrants amid crisis
The Spanish bishops’ conference expressed concern that migrants were being used to exert political pressure after a sudden influx of migrants in the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla increased tensions between Spain and Morocco.
Sister Norma Pimentel urges President Biden to visit U.S.-Mexico border
The announcement that the Biden administration was raising the limit of annual refugee admissions from 15,000 to 62,500 was cause for celebration at a Georgetown University online discussion of migrant issues May 4.
Children separated under Trump policy to be reunited with families
At the 51st annual Washington Conference on the Americas, May 4, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said four migrant families who remained separated under a Trump administration policy would be among the first to be reunited in early May by the Biden administration.
Biden raises refugee cap but with caveat
President Joe Biden announced May 3 he was raising the historically low refugee cap of 15,000 left by the Trump administration, but he also warned that his administration may not be able to meet the new number of refugees it is seeking to resettle in what remains of the fiscal year: 62,500.
USCCB migration chairman urges Biden to raise cap on refugee admissions
The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ migration committee said April 19 he is disappointed that President Joe Biden announced he will not increase the 15,000 cap on the number of refugees who can be resettled in the United States for the current fiscal year.
Rally seeks U.S. designation of Temporary Protected Status for more nations
An April 14 rally outside U.S. Customs and Immigration Services headquarters in Washington called for the United States to give Temporary Protected Status designation to nationals in several countries — and to extend the designation to those who had been previously granted it.
Group asks Biden administration to step up reunification of border families
An interfaith collection of religious activists is asking the Biden administration to step up the pace of family reunification to remedy the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy that separated an estimated 5,500 immigrant children from their families by invoking criminal proceedings against their parents.
Once again, Catholic agencies step in to help minors at the border
As the U.S. took in almost 19,000 migrant children, labeled “unaccompanied minors,” in March, faith-based organizations such as Catholic Charities throughout the U.S. have been doing their part to help.
Smugglers, extortion and broken dreams: Migrants’ road to U.S. has perils
Franciscan Father Gabriel Romero recalled a machete-wielding mob trying to break down the door to his migrant shelter in the middle of the night early this year. The friar blocked the door with his burly frame and yelled: “Back off!”
