Special Populations: Immigration Issues

Our Position and Catholic Social Teaching

Just and fair comprehensive immigration policies addressing the needs of newcomers – as well as the security and economic health of our nation – should be a priority as Congress seeks to reform our nation’s immigration laws. The position of Catholic Charities USA, in support of just and fair comprehensive immigration reform, is rooted in Catholic social teaching, the Church’s history of migration, and our local agencies’ experiences in providing services to nearly half a million immigrants.

Our history as a faith community has been as an immigrant church in an immigrant nation. The Church has a history of migration. Jesus himself was a migrant – born in a manger on a journey, he and his family fled to Egypt, and in his ministry he had “nowhere to lay his head.” (Mt. 8:20). Jesus taught us to look for Him in the faces of migrants and to welcome the stranger. Our history as a faith community has been as an immigrant church in an immigrant nation. By 1920, immigrants constituted 75% of Catholics in the United States. In response, the Church created and expanded ministries to meet the needs of this immigrant population.

Catholic Social Teaching calls us to seek justice for newcomers. Catholic tradition recognizes that each of us has rights and responsibilities that stem from our inherent dignity as human beings created in God’s image. Citizenship does not confer rights, personhood does. These rights assume “all that is necessary for living a genuinely human life,” including food, clothing, housing, and the right to set up a family and to do productive work. A person who cannot realize the basic needs for a dignified life in his home country has the right to migrate to achieve them.

The Church further teaches that government exists, “not to confine its people within the boundaries of their nation, but to protect, above all else, the common good of the entire human family” (Pope John XXIII, 1963). The Church recognizes a nation’s right to control its borders to further the common good. Yet, the common good is not served when policies and laws violate rights of the individual.

Finally, the Church calls for a “preferential option for the poor.” We must evaluate our society’s policies based on how they impact the poor. In response to the poverty and persecution in sending countries, we in the United States must welcome these strangers whenever possible and stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters as Jesus did. 

Current Issues and Challenges

Our current immigration system is broken and ineffective. Despite huge investment in border enforcement, totaling nearly $25 billion since 1993, the number of undocumented immigrants living and working in the country tripled in the same time period to between 11 and 12 million. Harsher border protections have not only failed to stem illegal immigration, but have also contributed to a rising number of border crossing deaths. More than 2,700 migrants have died in the Southwest during the past 15 years (USCCB).

Catholic Charities USA, along with other advocates, employers and legislators, is pushing for comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) that would halt illegal immigration and reduce pressure on border enforcement by expanding current immigration quotas, speeding reunification of family members and creating a temporary worker program that better responds to the real need for labor here in the United States. Advocates for CIR also seek an earned path to legalization and citizenship for the nearly 12 million undocumented workers in the country, many of whom are married to legal residents and citizens or whose children who are citizens.

Catholic Charities USA’s Position

Our Catholic social teaching and Scripture emphasizes the dignity and rights of the human person, the preferential option for the poor, and the need to welcome strangers. We believe that all immigrants are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity. To this end, CCUSA promotes legislative reforms to restore federal benefits to legal immigrants, increase admission of refugees and asylees, and allow immigrants to reunite with their families sooner and more easily. Legislation should restore the legal protection of due process for immigrants and improve protections for immigrants under existing federal laws, including labor laws. CCUSA also advocates for fair and just comprehensive reform of our immigration system that expands legal avenues for necessary workers to join and strengthen our communities, and creates opportunities for undocumented workers to earn permanent legal status through their labor.

Key Policies

» AgJOBS

The Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act (AgJOBS) is bipartisan legislation that seeks to improve the working conditions and opportunities of farm workers. The legislation grew out of extensive negotiations between agricultural employers, farm workers, and labor union advocates. It enables a set number of undocumented farm workers to adjust to legal status through a two-step process, which includes proof of work history and continued agricultural employment during a 3-to-5-year period of temporary immigrant status. The worker’s spouse and children can also remain legally, and following the farm worker’s adjustment to permanent status may also adjust to permanent status.

Additionally, AgJOBS streamlines and improves the H-2A guest worker program. Guest workers would have the right to appeal to federal court for enforcement of their rights, must be provided housing by their employer, and must receive the highest of three wages: state or federal minimum wage, the local “prevailing wage” for a job, or the adverse effect wage rate (AEWR). At the time the bill was first introduced in 2005, the AEWRs were higher than minimum wage levels, protecting the livelihoods of low-income agricultural workers.

Catholic Charities USA supports the AgJOBS legislation. It addresses the importance of preserving the family, which is the indispensable and essential unit of our society. It provides a pathway to citizenship so temporary workers can build productive, stable lives and contribute to the common good. It also provides protection under labor laws, so the dignity and rights of the human person are protected. Furthermore, it ensures at least a minimum wage, so that steps towards economic security can be taken.

» The Dream Act

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) would help youth brought to the U.S. years ago as undocumented immigrant children to shape bright futures for themselves and for America. Each year, about 65,000 U.S.-raised students graduate from high school and are unable to use their talents because they cannot work legally here, experience barriers to higher education, or fear deportation to countries that are foreign to them (National Immigration Law Center).

The DREAM Act would allow students brought to the U.S. more than 5 years ago when less than 15 years of age to apply for 6 years of legal residence. If the student maintains good moral character and graduates from a 2-year college, finishes at least 2 years toward a 4-year degree, or serves 2 years in the U.S. military during that time, he/she would be granted permanent residence. The Act also authorizes states to award in-state tuition to these student residents. The DREAM Act has strong bi-partisan support.

Catholic Charities USA supports DREAM act legislation. It ensures the dignity of the all persons and promotes the advancement of education for immigrant youth, essential to their ability to contribute to their communities and experience family economic security.