As Catholics, we are called upon to uphold the dignity of every human person, especially the most vulnerable, and to seek justice tempered with mercy.
The recent revelations from the House Committee on Homeland Security hearings, detailing the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) during the Biden administration’s border crisis, demand a serious examination through the lens of Catholic social teaching.
The reported misuse of billions of taxpayer funds, the endangerment of unaccompanied alien children (UAC), and the facilitation of illegal immigration by NGOs like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Southwest Key Programs, and Endeavors raise profound moral concerns.
Catholic teaching affirms the right of individuals to migrate in search of safety and a better life, recognizing migration as a response to human need.
However, this right must be balanced with the rule of law and the common good, as St. Pope John Paul II emphasized in his 1995 message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, urging governments to regulate migration responsibly.
The House committee hearings revealed a troubling reality: NGOs, entrusted with billions in federal funds, allegedly incentivized dangerous migrations, with devastating consequences. Journalist Julio Rosas testified he was told that 80% of women at an El Paso shelter reported being sexually abused during their journey.
This is not compassion but complicity in human suffering. The most alarming failure concerns the more than 325,000 unaccompanied children unaccounted for after being handed over to poorly-vetted sponsors.
The testimony of Ali Hopper, president and founder of GUARD Against Trafficking, exposed egregious misconduct at NGOs like Endeavors, where children were subjected to inappropriate behavior, inadequate oversight, and even shielding from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Church teaches that children are to be cherished and safeguarded. The failure to ensure their safety — evidenced by unanswered hotline calls reporting abuse and children sent to questionable sponsors — violates this sacred duty.
The Catholic principle of stewardship demands that resources be used justly for the common good. The reported $6 billion in federal grants to NGOs, with organizations such as Southwest Key Programs and Endeavors seeing revenues soar from $597 million in 2019 to $3 billion in 2022, raises serious questions about financial accountability.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General found that over half of audited funds lacked proper documentation, and allegations of executive salary increases — such as Southwest Key’s CEO earning $1.2 million after a 139% raise — suggest profiteering rather than service. As stewards of public funds, NGOs must prioritize the needs of those they serve over personal gain, aligning with the Church’s call for transparency and justice in resource allocation.
The Catholic response to this crisis must be rooted in both charity and truth.
First, we must advocate for the protection of migrants, especially children, ensuring robust safeguards like thorough vetting of sponsors and consistent welfare checks.
Second, Congress must hold NGOs accountable, demanding transparency.
Finally, the Church must continue to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that balances compassion with the rule of law, addressing migration while respecting national sovereignty.
Let us heed Pope Francis’ call to build a society that welcomes the stranger without compromising the common good.