Adrian Dominican Sisters
The Adrian Dominican Sisters “call on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform that includes reunification of families, and a path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants living in the United States. Until such time as this is achieved we support a moratorium on deportations.
“The Adrian Dominicans call for the repeal of restrictive state laws that attempt to supersede the federal government’s authority to regulate immigration. In particular, we call for an end to state legislation that criminalizes people with undocumented status; denies people basic human services; and creates a climate of fear in immigrant communities and in our country.”
Excerpted from the Immigration Statement adopted by the Adrian Dominican Leadership Council in 2012.
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Dominican Sisters of Peace
We, Dominican Sisters of Peace, claiming our mission to preach Truth, stand in support of human rights for immigrants. Aligned with our third Chapter Commitment, we “Promote justice through solidarity with those who are marginalized, especially women and children, and work with others to identify and transform oppressive systems.” The current immigration system is so broken that it denies immigrants basic human and civil rights. We call for comprehensive immigration reform that would provide additional and viable legal avenues for immigration, reunite families, legalize undocumented persons and establish opportunities for permanent residency.
December 1, 2011
Religious of Jesus and Mary
The Religious of Jesus and Mary submit the following comments in opposition to the proposed rule by the Department of Homeland Security and the Executive Office for Immigration Review “Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal; Credible Fear and Reasonable Fear Review” (RIN 1125-AA94, EOIR Docket No. 18-0002, A.G. Order No. 4714-2020)
The proposed rule violates the law of the United States and is opposed to Catholic Social Teaching. It flies in the face of the experience of our sisters, who work with asylum seekers at the border, as well as with those who have successfully gained legal status and are law-abiding, hard-working residents of our country.
Accounts of the persecution faced in parts of our world are numerous and credible, as are the stories of the dangers and abuse suffered by those detained on both sides of our border. All human beings have a right to life in safety. If that right is denied in their own country, they have a right to seek asylum elsewhere. To deny that right violates both international and US human rights laws. More fundamentally, it ignores our common humanity and abdicates our moral responsibility.
Our own Catholic faith teaches us that all human beings are children of God and deserve to live in dignity. The proposed policy will have deadly consequences for the most vulnerable of these sisters and brothers of ours. We strongly urge the administration to restore and strengthen the US asylum system at the border, bringing it into compliance with international and domestic legal obligations, and the values of our country.
Religious of Jesus and Mary – USA/Haiti Province July, 2020
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) Western American Province
We, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary of the Western American Province, SHM Extended Family and Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee members, are women and men who work to transcend boundaries, to be globally conscious, and to work toward an alternative globalization of concern, solidarity and hope. These are values which shape who we are in this millennium.
Welcoming the stranger is a non-negotiable tenet of all authentic faith traditions. Therefore, we stand with immigrant peoples in their search for dignity, respect and the life that all daughters and sons of God should enjoy. There are 11 million immigrant persons who live in the shadows – hard-working individuals, who simply desire employment, health care, education and peace. We urge all people of good will to take every step to ensure just and humane immigration reform. We will collaborate with groups that struggle and advocate for justice for immigrants, recognizing that all of us are one family in a loving God who listens to the cry of the poor and bends down in compassion to the vulnerable and marginalized.
We will emphasize that just and comprehensive immigration reform is a moral imperative that:
- Ensures family unity;
- Provides a roadmap to citizenship that can be achieved in a reasonable time frame of years, not decades;
- Promotes border policies consistent with values we hold as US citizens;
- Protects the rights of immigrant workers, ensuring safe workplaces and just wages;
- Shapes laws that respect persons, honors diversity and offers fair treatment to all;
- Addresses global factors that contribute to unauthorized immigration, a worldwide phenomenon.
As persons of faith, we walk with the disciples of Emmaus, who welcomed a mysterious stranger into their home, freeing the surprising presence of God within their human experience. We, RSHM, SHM Extended Family, and JPIC Committee, believe that in welcoming the stranger the face of God will be revealed to us.
5/14/2013
Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
Congregation Public Stand on Comprehensive Immigration Reform
In faithfulness to our call to incarnate Charity in our world and building on our long tradition of ministry with and for new immigrants, we, the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth of Convent Station, New Jersey, join the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in calling for comprehensive immigration reform that would:
- provide undocumented immigrants already in the United States with a path to residency and citizenship;
- expedite family reunification by increasing the number of family-based visas available and reducing the waiting times for separated immigrant families;
- provide a path to legal work for future immigrants by increasing the number of employment visas available;
- legislate border protection policies which prevent the entry of terrorists and dangerous criminals while respecting human rights and due process.
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
We, the members of the 2010 Senate of the Sisters of Charity, BVM, do proclaim and affirm our commitment to comprehensive immigration reform.
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Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
In response to our 2008 Chapter calls and the need to reform the US immigration system, we, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur of the United States, join the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in calling on the federal government to implement a comprehensive immigration reform that would:
- provide a path to legalization for the undocumented:
make it possible for hard-working immigrants who are already contributing to this country to come out of the shadows, regularize their status upon satisfaction of reasonable criteria and, over time, pursue an option to become lawful permanent residents and eventually United States citizens.
- provide a path to legal work for future immigrants by increasing the number of employment visas available:
create legal avenues for workers and their families who wish to migrate to the U.S. to enter our country and work in a safe, legal, and orderly manner with their rights fully protected.
- expedite family reunification by increasing the number of family-based visas available:
reform the family-based immigration system to significantly reduce waiting times for separated families who currently wait many years to be reunited.
- restore due process rights important for the protection of refugees and others:
legislate border protection policies consistent with humanitarian values and which treat all individuals with respect, while allowing the authorities to identify and prevent entry of terrorists and dangerous criminals.
- focus on the development of migration sending countries.
These policy recommendations are consistent with Catholic Social Teaching’s call for dignified treatment of migrants and the authentic development of all people. They derive from basic principles of Catholic migration teaching, and from Scripture.
“You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; have the same love for them as for yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt.” Lv. 19:33-34.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.” Mt. 25:35.
“We work with others to transform unjust structures and systems as we participate in creating new ways of relating which enable all to experience more fully the goodness of God.” Constitutions #23.
“We yearn to deepen our fundamental commitment to stand with our sisters and brothers who live in poverty and accompany them in their struggle….All these cries compel us to personal, corporate and collaborative action.” Chapter of 2008: Calls.
Suggestions for action:
– Pray for comprehensive immigration reform and for the victims of the broken immigration system and for those who advocate harsh anti-immigrant laws.
– Work in our local communities as we are able to support local initiatives to protect immigrants’ rights and to promote comprehensive immigration reform.
– Help educate our communities about Catholic Social Teaching, the suffering of immigrant communities and the global realities which are causes of their emigration.
– Work with organizations committed to comprehensive immigration reform.
(October 2011)
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
The 78 Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet who are delegates to the Los Angeles Province Chapter (governing body) express our solidarity with and support of our brothers and sisters who are immigrants and migrants. Compelled by the Scriptures, the signs of the times, our historical documents and church leadership we call upon the President and Congress to urgently pass just and comprehensive immigration reform that will include reunification of families and a path to citizenship for those living in the United States who have not been convicted of criminal acts.
Provisions that we believe must be included are:
- Streamlining the process for permanent residency.
- A temporary worker program with wage and labor protections.
- A realistic path to earned legalization.
- Due process protection and reform of the policies of immigration detention facilities to protect human rights.
- No detention or deportation of those children and adults without a criminal background.
- Effective and humane border security that recognizes the human rights and dignity of all people.
- Refuge for those fleeing persecution and exploitation.
- Policies to address the root causes of migration.
Until this is accomplished we call upon states either to not pass or to repeal restrictive laws that attempt to supersede the federal government’s authority to regulate immigration. In particular, we call for an end to state legislation that criminalizes undocumented persons, denies them basic human services and creates a climate of fear among immigrants. We commit to continue to educate ourselves and others, to advocate for just laws, to care for immigrants and migrants and to pray that all enjoy basic human rights and live in their God-given human dignity.
November 11, 2012
U.S. Federation Sisters of St. Joseph
We, the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Council,
compelled by the Gospel and by our heritage to be responsive to the “dear
neighbor” without distinction, call on the President and the U.S. Congress
to enact immigration policy that is both just and comprehensive. We believe
that this policy must include:
• A plan for addressing applicant backlogs for permanent residence, with
family unity as a priority.
• An effective program for temporary workers that insures labor
protections and equitable wages.
• A realistic path to earned legalization.
• Restoration of due process protections and reformed detention policies
for those detained in the immigration system.
• Children and adults with no criminal background not be detained in
centers or deported.
• Effective and humane border security that recognizes the human rights
of all people.
• A process whereby students who are children of undocumented families
can earn a college degree, become gainfully employed, and can enter into
a path to citizenship.
June 2012