"As evangelical and Catholic leaders, we are aware that the vast majority of those currently subject to detention and deportation are Catholic and evangelical Christians. Roughly one in 12 believers in this country either faces the loss of legal status or shares a home with someone who does. Their fear is our fear; their tears are ours to wipe."
The ECDI was launched in March 2026 as a joint initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). This ecumenical effort builds on decades of collaboration between the two organizations and focuses on one of the most pressing issues of our time: immigration.
Through the ECDI, Catholic and evangelical leaders are able to come together to pray, reflect on current pastoral realities, explore similarities and differences between the two traditions, and discern opportunities for collaboration and coordination in response to the phenomenon of immigration—all in the spirit of Christian fraternity.
Additionally, in the midst of the deep political and social divisions weighing on our communities, especially in relation to immigration, the ECDI exists as an opportunity to model civil discourse, something desperately needed in our time.
The USCCB's approach to the ECDI is inspired by the reflections of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, who has spoken of the importance of ecumenical dialogue. "[O]ur communion," he said early on in his pontificate, "is realised to the extent that we meet in the Lord Jesus. The more faithful and obedient we are to him, the more united we are among ourselves. We Christians, then, are all called to pray and work together to reach this goal, step by step, which is and remains the work of the Holy Spirit."
Learn more about the USCCB's ecumenical and interreligious efforts.
An Ecumenical Statement from the Co-Chairs of the Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue on Immigration
October 2026
We write as Christian leaders who love our country and our immigrant neighbors. As Catholic and evangelical Christians, we have doctrinal differences, but we are united in our conviction that God calls us to stand both with our fellow Americans who are experiencing economic and cultural anxieties and with our immigrant neighbors who are facing existential challenges.
We write with a special focus on children and families. Jesus taught that whenever we welcome a child in his name, we are welcoming him (Matthew 18:5). Following our Lord, we work and pray for the well-being of all God’s children and especially for those who are far from home.
Most Rev. Brendan Cahill, Bishop of Joliet and Chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Migration
Rev. Dr. Walter Kim, President of the National Association of Evangelicals
Organizational affiliations are for identification purposes only and do not necessarily convey an endorsement of the ECDI by the organization.
Most Rev. William Joensen, Bishop of Des Moines
Most Rev. Jacques Fabre-Jeune, Bishop of Charleston
Most Rev. Michael Pham, Bishop of San Diego
Most Rev. Jeffrey Monforton, Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
Most Rev. Christopher Cooke, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia
Organizational affiliations are for identification purposes only and do not necessarily convey an endorsement of the ECDI by the organization.
Rev. Frank Donio, S.A.C., Executive Director of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Sr. Carol Zinn, S.S.J., Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, President of The Catholic University of America
Ms. Kerry Alys Robinson, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA
Ms. Anna Gallagher, Executive Director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.
Organizational affiliations are for identification purposes only and do not necessarily convey an endorsement of the ECDI by the organization.
For media requests related to the ECDI, please contact the USCCB's Office of Public Affairs and the NAE's communciations team.
