Enough Already! THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION
Wednesday, 30th July 2025
The phenomenon of immigration, where masses of people move temporarily or permanently from their place of origin to another, in search of better living conditions, has existed since the dawn of humanity, in all corners of the earth. Immigration is a complex issue in which multiple causes and characteristics converge in the United States and worldwide.
Human immigration occurs when people are attracted to a destination or expelled from their place of origin. Immigrations have a global impact, both in the societies where the exodus originates and in those that receive the immigrants. Today, amidst the rising complexity of the immigration phenomenon, new factors further complicate the issue, including climate change and emerging and escalating geopolitical conflicts.
In 2022, the percentage of recent immigrants in the United States reached 14% of the population. This represents an enormous number of people from diverse backgrounds, seeking protection, economic stability, and social stability, as well as family reunification in many cases.
Nearly forty years have passed since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, who, in 1986, granted amnesty to almost three million undocumented immigrants with the “Immigration Control and Reform Act” (IRCA). Successive political campaigns and governments, alternating between this nation’s two traditional parties, have mishandled and exploited the issue of immigration and mocked the hope of the masses, without effectively and definitively resolving the plight of the millions of migrants who work honestly, contribute their labor force to the progress of the United States, and pay taxes only to live in the shadows, unable to enjoy the full rights, security, protections, and opportunities open to citizens.
These circumstances all led us to our situation today: a failed and broken immigration system, with a government that triumphed electorally under the premise of solving the immigration issue conclusively. But the remedy – so far – has turned out to be worse than the disease. Government actions have consisted of the insensitive and indiscriminate deportation of anyone not meeting the traits of the phenotype of the dominant culture (blond, blue-eyed, tall, etc.).
These are mass expulsions, without contemplation, preceded and accompanied by hate speech, racism, prejudice, all kinds of mistreatment and ignominy, to prisons in countries other than the countries of origin of the deportees, violating legal processes, and the elementary, fundamental, and civil rights of the expelled.
It is true that every nation has the right to protect its citizens, and that among the huge masses of immigrants that have entered the territory of the United States, there have been social misfits, people who lie, abuse, exploit, deceive, defraud, and embezzle government social assistance programs, violent people who have committed crimes and, in doing so, they have changed the rule, profile, and tradition of the vast majority of immigrants: honest and hardworking men and women, always ready to give the best of themselves for the nation that receives them.
But the solution against the few who are dishonest and violent cannot be the violence of a petulant and overwhelming government that represses indiscriminately and that, therefore, attacks innocents. The solution cannot be against the vast majority of immigrants who have done and continue to do so much good for the United States over many decades.
Amidst such governmental procedures, we ask ourselves: Where are the values and principles of the Gospel that, in this nation, we “Christians,” the vast majority of the inhabitants of the United States, profess? Where is forgiveness, compassion, and fraternal solidarity?
Against these outrages and nonsense, against these abuses and excesses, these transgressions and this senselessness, this violence and barbarity in the decisions and behaviors of government entities against immigrants, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States has spoken out – on many and varied occasions – unceasingly defending and supporting immigrants. The Conference has spoken out against executive actions, calling for legal support, solidarity, compassion, encounter, and immigration reform, criticizing policies that violate humanitarian actions, and reaffirming the evangelizing work of the Church as a “work of mercy.”
As spokesmen for this position, I highlight the recent work and messages of Archbishops Thomas G. Wenski and Timothy P. Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who, on June 16, said: “As your shepherds, your fear echoes in our hearts and we make your pain our own. Count on the commitment of all of us to stand with you in this challenging hour.” (Cf. USCCB website)
As a humanist and Christian, I join the cry of the Catholic bishops of this nation, and I believe I am echoing the voices of millions of immigrants who, for many years, have with honesty and through significant contributions of sacrifice and work built the greatness of this nation.
Solutions to the complex problems posed by the immigration phenomenon in the United States require a comprehensive, multifaceted, and balanced approach that considers the root causes of immigration as well as its impacts on the country of destination. We seek a system of strategies that address issues such as border security, legal issues and immigration reform, international cooperation especially from the countries of origin and international organizations, humanitarian aid, the fight against human trafficking networks, integration into society and the new culture by immigrants, and government policies that recognize the valuable contribution of immigrants to U.S. society.
We all know that this nation owes its present to the glorious past made possible by immigrants from far and wide. Enough of pronouncements and mistreatment, enough of electoral games and politics, enough of denigrating and failed actions against immigrants. We all deserve respect and justice, especially in a nation that prides itself on being a beacon and model of democracy and respect for human rights worldwide.
