DEAR FATHER | Catholic positions on immigration must be rooted in the Gospel

The issue of immigration enforcement has proven to be extremely divisive in the present moment. Partisan politics have blocked any meaningful immigration reform, and hateful political rhetoric has driven many people to the breaking point. There seems to be no solution.

To gain perspective, it is helpful to look to the past. This isn’t the first time our nation has been divided over immigration. In the mid-19th century, attacks against immigrants ran high, specifically against Catholic immigrants (first the Irish, and later the Italians, Poles and Eastern Europeans). Political cartoons mocked Catholic immigrants, and entire Catholic sections of cities were destroyed. In the mid-1850s, the Know-Nothing party swept state legislatures in the Midwest and Northeast, with their members pledging never to vote for an immigrant or a Roman Catholic.

In other words, not only have we been down this road before, but we also know what it feels like to be the target.

Pope Leo, the U.S. bishops and individual bishops — including Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski — have acknowledged that our current enforcement of immigration policy is morally flawed. None of them denies a nation’s right to regulate its borders. What they have objected to — numerous times — is the indiscriminate roundup of undocumented persons, the separation of families, the classification of undocumented persons as criminals based on immigration status alone and rhetoric that enflames hatred or violence against immigrants. They have also objected to the harsh tactics that have been used against immigrants or peaceful protesters.

To give one example: At their November gathering in 2025, the U.S. bishops overwhelmingly passed a special message regarding immigration in which they expressed deep concern over the vilification of immigrants and the fear that has been instilled in their communities. They called once again for a just and meaningful reform of the immigration system. They stated categorically that they oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people and the use of any dehumanizing language, be it against immigrants or law enforcement officials. They asked that churches, schools and hospitals be restored as protected sites. They concluded with the words: “To our immigrant brothers and sisters, we stand with you in your suffering, since, when one member suffers, all suffer. You are not alone!”

The beginning and end of any Catholic position on immigration, including enforcement, must be the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As has been frequently pointed out, the Holy Family fled to Egypt in order to save the life of the Christ Child. If we take the Gospel seriously, we look to the teachings of Jesus, who said, “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” The only solution for believers will be to respect the dignity of all people and to see the face of Christ in them. We must not only believe this, but we must also bring that vision to legislation, law enforcement, peaceful protest and direct care to immigrants, regardless of their legal status. As stated earlier, we have been down this divisive road before, and we know the path to peace, if enough people of goodwill have the courage to take it.

To read more about what Pope Leo and U.S. bishops are saying about immigration, visit stlouisreview.com/topic/immigration/