In the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord tells us plainly: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
This command is not optional for Catholics. It stands at the heart of our faith. It is a call to see Christ in the immigrant, the refugee, and the family seeking safety, opportunity, and stability.
In the diocese, this mandate finds this expression through Catholic Migration Services and its close collaboration with Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens.
For decades, these ministries have provided free, professional immigration legal services to low-income New Yorkers in Brooklyn and Queens.
Staffed by experienced attorneys, Department of Justice-accredited representatives, paralegals, and dedicated advocates, Catholic Migration Services offers critical assistance in removal defense, affirmative applications, naturalization, asylum, family petitions, and more.
Their work extends beyond immigration to housing advocacy and workers’ rights, all the while addressing the full spectrum of challenges faced by vulnerable families.
The advocates serve people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status, embodying the Church’s universal call to solidarity and the dignity of every human person.
This mission is more urgent than ever.
Shifting immigration policies, increased enforcement, and a complex legal landscape have left many families anxious and uncertain.
In such times, the Church must be a reliable beacon of hope and truth. Catholic Migration Services stands as that beacon by not promising quick fixes or miracles, but offering competent, ethical, and compassionate guidance rooted in respect for both human dignity and the rule of law.
Tragically, the very desperation that drives people to seek help has attracted criminal predators.
In recent years, immigration-related scams have surged dramatically. Fraudsters impersonate staff from Catholic Charities and Catholic Migration Services, create fake social media pages, and demand payments for services that our agencies provide freely.
The fraudsters initiate contact via Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms — tactics not used by the Catholic organizations.
They then stage phony consultations or even fake court proceedings, sometimes causing victims to miss legitimate hearings, with devastating consequences.
The Catholic response to these injustices flows directly from the Church’s social teaching.
Our faith recognizes the right of nations to secure borders and regulate migration, but it insists that policies must always respect the fundamental dignity of the human person created in God’s image.
We affirm the right to migrate when conditions in one’s homeland make a dignified life impossible, while also working for the “right to remain,” which supports development so people can thrive in their native lands.
In serving immigrants, we serve Christ. In the diocese, the richly diverse local Church strengthens our parishes and enriches our communities.
Real help awaits, which is free of charge and grounded in integrity.
In the words of Pope Francis, we are called to build a “culture of encounter.”
In Brooklyn and Queens, Catholic Migration Services lives this culture daily.
May God bless their important work, strengthen all who seek justice, and open our hearts to welcome the stranger as we would welcome Christ.