The entire nation, but especially Texas, is impacted by the lack of comprehensive immigration reform in our country. As pastors, we witness the consequences of a failed system every day in the eyes of migrants who come to our parish doors in search of assistance. We are shepherds to communities, both along the border and in the interior of the nation, which are impacted by immigration.^[i] It is our joy and responsibility to follow the call of Jesus Christ in welcoming the immigrants in our midst (cf. Mt 25:35).

The valuable contributions of our state’s immigrants are undeniable. Immigrants have and continue to play a major role in our faith communities, workplaces, schools, and greater society. However, because of a lack of federally-led comprehensive immigration reform, our immigrant families and communities, as well as our state and our nation are suffering from division and discord that threatens the very dignity of our brothers and sisters among us.

We do not condone unlawful entry or circumventions of our nation’s immigration laws.  As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens (Catechism, 2241).” However, the same paragraph also specifically states that, “the more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him (Catechism, 2241).”

As Bishops, we seek to promote the dignity of all people and especially to follow the biblical call to welcome the stranger in our midst. The reality is that our broken immigration system separates families, fails to acknowledge the economic demands of our state and our nation, and sometimes demeans the intrinsic dignity that God has innately placed in every human person. Current immigration laws and policies have often led to the undermining of immigrants’ human dignity and have kept families apart.  The existing immigration system has resulted in a growing number of persons in this country in an unauthorized capacity, living in the shadows as they toil in jobs that would otherwise go unfilled.  Close family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents must wait years for a visa to be reunited.  And, our nation’s border enforcement strategies have been ineffective and have led to the death of thousands of migrants.^[ii]

“I want to encourage you and your communities to continue to welcome the immigrants who join your ranks today, to share their joys and hopes, to support them in their sorrows and trials, and to help them flourish in their new home,” stated Pope Benedict XVI during his 2008 visit to the United States. “This, indeed, is what your fellow countrymen have done for generations. From the beginning, they have opened their doors to the tired, the poor, the ‘huddled masses yearning to breathe free’ (cf. Sonnet inscribed on the Statue of Liberty). These are the people whom America has made her own.”[iii]

As the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church teaches, “immigration can be a resource for development rather than an obstacle to it. In the modern world, where there are still grave inequalities between rich countries and poor countries, and where advances in communications quickly reduce distances, the immigration of people looking for a better life is on the increase. These people come from less privileged areas of the earth and their arrival in developed countries is often perceived as a threat  to the high levels of well-being achieved thanks to decades of economic growth. In most cases, however, immigrants fill a labor need which would otherwise remain unfilled in sectors and territories where the local workforce is insufficient or unwilling to engage in the work in question (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 297).”

We support comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to permanent residency, emphasizes family unity, and addresses the root causes of migration in sending countries. We oppose the enforcement of federal law by local and state law enforcement, as well as opposition to a Texas-Mexico border fence and any efforts to reduce access to education or health care for immigrants.

Particularly in Texas, our immigrant population contributes profoundly to the quality standard of life we have in our communities. Rather than perceiving immigrants as a threat to our community, we see immigrants as an intricate component of the fabric of American life, a continuation of the foundation of our country, and a major contribution to our nation’s continuing prosperity. We encourage all to pray and advocate with us for comprehensive immigration reform that respects the dignity of the immigrant, fosters a national spirit of welcome and hospitality to all, and allows immigrants to participate fully in our communities.