In the past two years, we have seen in the media two major refugee flows: first people fleeing Ukraine after the Russian invasion and more recently the Palestinian people moving from the north of Gaza to the south.
Walking With Migrants
Undocumented Migration: Is it Beneficial or Harmful to Americans?
Many would say undocumented migration is harmful to the country. I would say that undocumented migration is more harmful to the migrants. However, what is the reason why we seem to have tolerated it in our country for the past 40 years? Those who seem to oppose immigration cite the rule of law, whereby illegal migration by definition is presumed to be harmful. On the other hand, we see a labor market, especially in the agricultural and other sectors, that relies heavily on undocumented migration.
Are We Providing Pathways or Obstacles for Today’s Migrants?
A very common question people are asking today about migrants is, “Why are these people not coming legally like my ancestors did?”
Be ‘Free to Choose Whether to Migrate or to Stay,’ Says Pope Francis
At the height of the great migration from Europe 109 years ago, the Church universally established a Sunday on which we can celebrate the phenomenon of migration. But is migration something to celebrate or is it something to understand and commemorate?
Scapegoating the Helpers, and the Lack of Legal Migration Channels
As I have written before, during the past year some vocal public officials and private organizations have joined with some media outlets in making false or misleading claims regarding the Church’s work with migrants and refugees.
Religious Workers Getting Visas Are Essential in Our Society
When I started writing this monthly column, “Walking With Migrants,” I spoke about the difficulties that religious communities were having with the R-1 Nonimmigrant Religious Worker Visa.
Alternatives to Dangerous Latin American Migration Journeys
A recent documentary by CNN featured some of its reporters making the trek through the dangerous Darien Gap — a jungle that separates Colombia from Panama.
To Move or Not to Move, That Is the Question
A statement titled “The right not to have to migrate” was recently issued by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. But what does the right not to migrate actually mean?
More Action Needed to Help Essential Migrant Farmworkers in the U.S.
The immigration crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border has drawn much attention to Title 42. While the law had been around for decades, the Trump administration used it to block migrants from entering the U.S. in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
Renewing an Old Approach to Welcoming Newcomers to the U.S.
The Biden administration is currently using its authority to grant humanitarian parole to newcomers through processes devised for five countries: Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The common elements among these countries are political instability, violent conflict, and widespread persecution of certain individuals. The aim of these parole programs is to increase access to humanitarian relief while seeking to minimize irregular migration. These processes rely on an old and tested system of welcoming newcomers: private sponsorship.