Immigration from a Catholic Perspective

Bulletin Column – July 14, 2019

            Recently we celebrated July 4, the day on which we give thanks for the freedom we enjoy as a country. In many ways, America represents a freedom that much of the world longs to enjoy. For this reason, we have always been a nation of immigrants, as people have flocked to our shores in search of a better life, a life of liberty and prosperity.

            But these past few years have been marked with contentious debate about immigration, pitting people like Donald Trump against people like Pope Francis. Some advocate for an exclusive nationalism, building a wall and closing borders. Others advocate for no restrictions, sanctuary cities, and welcoming the stranger. What is an American Catholic to do? What does our Church teach about immigration?

            Immigration is a complex issue because there are competing rights at stake. Catholic Social Teaching says that individuals on both sides of the issue have to balance their legitimate rights with the rights of the other.

            On one side, every country has a right to protect its borders. That’s the whole reason we have passports and armies – because we recognize that not everyone who wants to get into America is coming for the right reasons. Countries have a duty first to their own citizens – to protect them and to further their prosperity – before they consider the needs of others. This is akin to parents who must meet their own children’s needs before using their resources to help the homeless.

            On the other side, every human being has a right to food, water, safety and security, and a home. They have a right, then, to pursue these things elsewhere when their home countries become too impoverished or unsafe for them to remain there. Who among us would not want a better life for themselves and their family, when all around them is gangs and guerilla warfare and poverty?

            In addition, Catholic Social Teaching elucidates a principle called “solidarity” – meaning that we are not rugged individualists who only look out for ourselves. Rather, as Christians we ARE called to be our brother’s keeper. After all, Christ makes it clear in Matthew 25 that we will be judged on how we treat the poor, the stranger, the hungry, the sick – because how we treat them is how we treat the Lord. So, all of us cannot remain secure in our bubble and be uncompassionate to the sufferings of others, when it is possible for us to offer help to the suffering.

            With that said, what do we do about the current immigration crisis? This is a topic on which people of good will can disagree, because the Church does not advocate one specific approach over another. We have to balance the rights of the poor migrants with the rights of the country to protect its citizens.

            But in our country (and especially in our media), it is often presented that there are only two options: either build a wall, or welcome everybody. Yet, as St. Thomas Aquinas said, “Virtue is in the middle” – usually the correct answer is somewhere between these two extremes!

            So on this topic, I would advocate that we ought to seek a third option. Instead of building a wall, we rather reform our immigration system so that the path to citizenship becomes easier and quicker. We ought to give significantly more temporary (probationary) visas, so that people can become accustomed to living in this country, learn the language and the laws, and prove their character. We ought to have a zero-tolerance policy for violent crimes committed by people on visas: immediate deportation for those who commit them. We ought to offer more free ESL classes and social services to help with integration into American culture. Likewise, immigrants must seek to know the laws and language of their new country, and be willing to pay taxes and contribute to society – no more off-the-books employment, or other ways of circumventing the system.

            This topic is one that will be hotly debated for many more years, I imagine, and people with the best of intentions will still disagree. Nevertheless, our Catholic Social Teaching does give us principles to guide our decision-making, that we may seek to build a just and equitable society for all…immigrants included.