Immigration

Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration

The Catholic Church in the United States is an immigrant Church with a long history of embracing diverse newcomers and providing assistance and pastoral care to immigrants, migrants, refugees, and people on the move.  Our Church has responded to Christ’s call for us to “welcome the stranger among us,” for in this encounter with the immigrant, the migrant, and the refugee in our midst, we encounter Christ.

A rich body of Church teaching, including Papal encyclicals, Bishops’ statements and pastoral letters, has consistently reinforced our moral obligation to treat the stranger as we would treat Christ himself.  In the 2001 pastoral statement, Welcoming the Stranger Among Us:  Unity in Diversity, the Bishops of the United States called upon the Catholic faithful to a conversion of minds and hearts, imploring us to communion and solidarity with diverse newcomers, and entreating us to find new and meaningful ways to welcome our immigrant sisters and brothers into our parishes, schools and communities.  In 2003, the Bishops of the United States, together with the Bishops of Mexico, in the pastoral statement, “Strangers No Longer:  Together on the Journey of Hope” / “Juntos en el Camino de la Esperanza Ya no Somos Extranjeros” acknowledged that the current immigration system is badly in need of reform and offered a comprehensive set of recommendations for changing U.S. laws and policies to bring about a more humane and just immigration system in the United States.

To learn more about the Church’s teaching on immigration, we encourage you to view the resources linked below:

Quotes from Church Teachings on the Rights of Migrants and Refugees

Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration and the Movement of Peoples

Church Teaching on Public Policy Related to Immigration

Catholic Church Teaching on Vulnerable Migrant Populations

Catholic Church's Position on Immigration Reform

The Catholic Bishops on State and Local Immigration Enforcement

The Catholic Church and Immigrant Religious Workers

The Catholic Church's Position on Birthright Citizenship

The Catholic Church's Teaching on Immigration Enforcement

The Holy See’s Perspective on Catholic Social Teaching and Migration

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Letters and Statements to Congress and the Administration on Immigration Policy and Legislation

March 2012 Letter to House on Immigration

Marzo 2012 Carta al Congreso Sobre Imigración

How You Can Help

Learn More About Immigrants and Immigration Reform in the United States

Frequently Asked Questions about Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Why Don't Unauthorized Migrants Come Here Legally?

Visit the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign Website to:

Learn the Issues

Get Facts, Figures, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions and to De-Bunk Myths

Learn More about the Work of the Church with Immigrants, Migrants, Refugees

The Bishops' Committee on Migration and its staff in Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) carry out the commitment of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to serve and advocate for refugees, asylees, forced migrants, immigrants, and other people on the move.  Click on the link above to learn more about how MRS and the Church in the U.S. is working to create a world where immigrants, migrants and people on the move are treated with dignity, respect welcome and belonging.

Take Action in Solidarity with our Immigrant Sisters and Brothers

An Invitation to Serve Immigrants and Refugees

Parish activities to help immigrants, migrants, refugees and people on the move

Join the USCCB’s Justice for Immigrants Campaign

Send a postcard to Congress expressing your support for meaningful and compassionate Comprehensive Immigration Reform

DONATE NOW!

Help the Catholic Church in the U.S. to continue to welcome the stranger and to provide advocacy and services for our immigrant sisters and brothers by making a contribution to the National Catholic Fund for Migration and Refugee Services.

More Information

Contact Migration and Refugee Services