POPULAR RESOURCES

National Migration Week / World Day of Migrants and Refugees

Learn more about the U.S. Catholic Church's annual celebration of National Migration Week and the Universal Church's World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope

In 2003, the bishops of the United States and Mexico issued a joint pastoral letter, Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope (en español), which presented a Catholic framework for responding to the ongoing migration phenomenon in the two countries. 

Q&A on Catholic Ministries Serving Migrants and Refugees

This resource, while not comprehensive in nature or responsive to every aspect of the immigration debate, seeks to address some common misconceptions and questions regarding the Church’s role in serving migrants and refugees, as well as the ways in which Catholic social teaching applies to these issues. It also discusses the work of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in this area.

Catholic Social Teaching and Migration 

This resource discusses the main principles derived from Catholic social teaching in relation to migration, as well as the Church's perspective on specific areas, such as irregular migration and immigration reform. 

Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform 

This resource discusses six key elements to guide immigration reform efforts, grounded in Catholic social teaching generally and the Church’s teaching on migration specifically.

Pope Leo XIV's Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees

For over 110 years, the Catholic Church has commemorated the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has released his message for the annual celebration, based on this year's theme of "Even just one of these children". 

View the message

USCCB Special Pastoral Message on Immigration

At their Fall 2025 Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, the U.S. Catholic bishops issued a special message addressing their concern for the evolving situation impacting immigrants in the United States. The bishops overwhelmingly approved the message in a vote of 216-5. 

Read the message

The Cabrini Pledge

The Cabrini Pledge is both a reminder of our immigrant heritage and a call to deeper engagement with our faith in response to current events. At a time when our culture is dominated by deep political divisions and reasonable disagreements about immigration policy, progress can feel impossible. But by witnessing to the God-given dignity of every person, including the migrants and refugees in our midst, we pave the way for an approach rooted in mercy, justice, and the common good. And together, like Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, we can be keepers of hope.

Explore the call

Committee on Migration Mandate

The Committee assists the bishops, both individually and collectively, in supporting local Church and regional efforts to respond to the unique needs of newcomers and people on the move. The Committee advocates for public policies toward immigrants, migrants, and refugees that conform with Church teachings, and it administers programs designed to assist in the resettlement of refugees, human trafficking victims, and other forced migrants.

This mandate includes the following areas of responsibility:

Public policy regarding migration, refugees, and trafficking of persons; services to refugees, forced migrants, and victims of trafficking; special needs for people on the move.

Bishop Brendan Cahill

"The Church does not align herself with political ideologies; rather, she seeks to bring the light of the Gospel and the moral teachings of our faith into every public conversation that touches on human life and dignity. Immigration is one of those areas where the stakes are profoundly human."
 

BISHOP BRENDAN CAHILL

Chairman, Committee on Migration
December 15, 2025

The Committee and the Secretariat

The U.S. bishops' Committee on Migration sets broad policies and direction for the Church's work in the area of migration. The Committee oversees the work of, and provides guidance to, the USCCB's Secretariat of Migration, which is comprised of various administrative, policy, and programatic offices, including: 

What We Do

The above Secretariat offices represent the bishops' interests in policy formulation and communication, advocacy, education, refugee resettlement, and other specialized services to at-risk and vulnerable populations, such as victims of trafficking and unaccompanied migrant children. The Committee actively promotes the U.S. bishops' migration-related interests with public policymakers at the national and international levels. Committee members and Secretariat staff periodically testify before Congress and meet with administration officials to advocate on behalf of the bishops' positions. Among the high-priority policy concerns of the Committee are comprehensive immigration reform and long-term integration solutions for newcomers. Consistent with its concern for the most vulnerable and the plight of forcibly displaced persons, the Committee occasionally arranges site visits to refugee areas of the world to evaluate conditions and make formulate recommendations for both the United States and international community.

The Committee on Migration, supported by the Secretariat of Migration, has the following key mission responsibilities:

1. Advancing the public policy priorities of the bishops on migration issues and human trafficking, and providing policy direction to the USCCB

2. Administering programs designed to serve in the resettlement of refugees, human trafficking victims, and other forced migrants

3. Conducting fact-finding, advocacy and pastoral visits to address refugee crises and other migration issues of concern to bishops

Secretariat of Migration Mission Statement

Grounded by our belief in Jesus Christ and Catholic teaching, the Secretariat fulfills the commitment of the U.S. Catholic bishops to protect the life and dignity of the human person. We serve and advocate for refugees, asylees, migrants, unaccompanied children, and victims of human trafficking.

How You Can Help

Donate by going to the National Catholic Fund for Migration and Refugee Services.

 

Immigration and the Catholic Church

Immigration and the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church in the United States has been closely involved on issues related to immigration for over two hundred years.

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