Recently my family and I were blessed to go on a pilgrimage to Mexico City to see Our Lady of Guadalupe. One of the highlights of our time there was being able to spend some time with an organization called “Hope for the Poor”, whose ministry centers around helping the homeless by giving them food and shelter as well as avenues to healing, intervention, and Catholic teaching. In our brief time there, we were able to enter a bit of their world. The children immediately grabbed our kids’ hands to play soccer, basketball, and even two-step with them! Before we left, the families shared their testimonies. Powerful and humbling! Of all the experiences we had in Mexico, this experience was the absolute favorite for our family.
As we enter the final stretch of political campaigning, no doubt there will be discussion of the border crisis. It is important to enter the world of the refugee to add perspective. There are many reasons why people flee from their country and below are just a few. Refugees not only from Mexico, but a steady increase in the number of refugees from Central and South America and elsewhere are seeking safe harbor in the United States.
Economic Hardship: One of the primary reasons refugees seek to migrate to the United States is the lack of economic opportunities at home. High levels of poverty and unemployment plague many regions and people become desperate. Our tour guide shared that in Mexico, many laborers work long hours six days a week and receive only about $20 per day/$120 per week. A one-bedroom apartment may cost about $400 to $500 per month. Also of note, the price of an application for U.S. citizenship averages around $760, not to mention the additional costs incurred.
Violence and Crime: Another critical factor driving migration is the violence and crime associated with drug cartels and organized crime. Families find themselves in a struggle to protect their loved ones from this dangerous way of life. This is also the major push for stricter border protection.
Corruption and Government Issues: The influence of organized crime and severe security challenges have influenced the political climate of many countries. During this election cycle in Mexico, a record number of 37 candidates were assassinated as they campaigned for various political offices!
Family Reunification: Family reunification is another important factor motivating migration. Many refugees have family members who have already migrated to the U.S. and established lives here.
What is the Catholic Perspective?
Hospitality is a cornerstone of Christian ethics, which is deeply rooted in the teachings of Christ. The Catholic Church therefore calls for policies that balance security with compassion, assisted by the principles of human dignity and solidarity.
Biblical Foundations
The Bible provides a great beginning point for understanding hospitality. In the Old Testament, hospitality is often depicted as a sacred duty. For example, Leviticus 19:34 states, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
Gaudium et Spes
Gaudium et Spes (1965), one of the principal documents of the Second Vatican Council, highlights the Church’s role in addressing the needs of the modern world, including migration and the refugee. “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ” (Gaudium et Spes, 1).
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1883)
Paragraph 1883 emphasizes the principle of subsidiarity, which calls for decisions to be made at the most local level possible, while still upholding the common good. This principle is a pivotal one in the context of the border crisis, as it calls for policies that respect the dignity of individuals and communities while also seeking global intervention.
Balancing Security and Compassion
In practical terms, the Church recognizes the need for secure borders but insists that this security must not come at the price tag of human dignity. Pope Francis has repeatedly called for a balanced approach to immigration. In his address to the United States Congress in 2015, he urged, “We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation.” Perhaps we need more advocates and donors helping our refugees seek legal means to citizenship? I have always been and vote as a conservative. I believe in a strong, free, and secure America. We must secure our borders, but we must find avenues to allow people the ability to arrive here safely for the protection of themselves, their families, and a hope for the future.
Maria Stewart — SFA Theologians Guild Member