On the day Donald J. Trump took office, he immediately began fulfilling many of his campaign promises. Arguably first among them was his vow to deport the millions of undocumented immigrants who have called the United States their home for years or even decades.
The U.S. bishops, as well as other leaders in the church, have made clear their position on immigration. On a national level, this often comes in the form of statements issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But ordinaries in dioceses throughout the nation have consistently taken stands for immigrants and against anti-immigrant legislation, upholding the dignity of the human person and the sacredness of the family.
It’s been more than 20 years since the U.S. bishops began the Justice for Immigrants campaign. Its website details the church’s nuanced position on immigration, which is neither “open borders” nor restrictionist. As a Catholic journalist, I have often turned to it as a resource over the years to ground my reporting in church teaching.
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