The first participants in the caravan of Central Americans arriving in Tijuana, Mexico, were met with hostility as residents of an affluent neighborhood confronted migrants wanting to camp on a beach near the border fence separating the United States and Mexico. The residents demanded the migrants leave Tijuana, sang the Mexican national anthem and shouted, "Mexico!" as … [Read more...]
Latest news: Immigrants and refugees, church leaders on immigration issues, government policies on immigration issues
Rough reception in Tijuana
As caravan from Central America arrives in border city, residents demanded that they leave, sang the Mexican national anthem and shouted, "Mexico!"November 20, 2018 Leave a Comment
California, Mexican border bishops meet in Tijuana
Bishops from California were San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto, Fresno Bishop Armando Ochoa and San Diego Auxiliary Bishop John DolanNovember 12, 2018 Leave a Comment
As caravans of Honduran and Guatemalan immigrants traveled through Mexico toward the U.S. in a cacophony of media reporting and political rhetoric, a group of California and Mexican bishops met quietly in Tijuana in their annual meeting of prayer and friendship Oct. 22-23. “We made much progress in building up bonds of communion between our communities with much friendship and … [Read more...]
Judge throws out lawsuit against bishops over immigrant shelters
ACLU of Northern California had sought to block government funding of USCCB to provide housing for immigrants because of Church's refusal to provide abortions, contraceptionOctober 16, 2018 2 Comments
A federal judge has dismissed the ACLU’s attempt to block the government from delegating the care of immigrant unaccompanied minors and sex-trafficking victims to a Catholic group that opposes birth control and abortion, and transfers those wishing to have an abortion to other shelters. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California filed the lawsuit against the … [Read more...]
Statue of Mary envisioned for San Ysidro near U.S.-Mexico border
40-foot-tall monument would stand as symbol to welcome immigrants and refugees headed to the U.S., planned for hilltop parking lot at Our Lady of Mount Carmel ChurchOctober 7, 2018 24 Comments
Inspired by the Statue of Liberty, a 40-foot-tall monument of Mary, mother of Jesus, will stand as a symbol intended to welcome immigrants and refugees headed to the U.S. The statue will go up on the hilltop parking lot of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in San Ysidro, where community members convened Friday to kick off a crowdfunding campaign to raise $1 million to build … [Read more...]
Los Angeles archdiocese launches donation campaign for immigrant families
Online donation page shared with all parishes in LA, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties; proceeds will be used for legal and education assistance to families through Catholic Charities’ Esperanza Rights ProjectSeptember 24, 2018 11 Comments
In an effort to assist reunited immigrant and refugee families, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, in partnership with Catholic Charities Los Angeles, is launching an online donation page that will be shared with all the parishes in LA, Ventura and Santa Barbara. The proceeds will be used for legal and education assistance to families through Catholic Charities’ Esperanza Rights … [Read more...]
Six bishops, 16 priests hear confessions, say Mass at ICE detention center
Delegation organized by California Catholic Conference allowed inside Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center also included several nuns and volunteersAugust 2, 2018 9 Comments
A group of Catholic leaders in California were allowed inside the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center July 25. The delegation, organized by the California Catholic Conference, consisted of six bishops, 16 priests and several nuns and volunteers. During their time there, the bishops and priests heard confessions and celebrated four separate Masses … [Read more...]
In the fight for immigrants, Cardinal Roger Mahony works out of the spotlight
He told Archbishop Jose Gomez he would “stay below the radar”July 22, 2018 24 Comments
Standing beneath the wooden panels of a church in the San Gabriel Valley, Cardinal Roger Mahony delivered a message that has over decades become a refrain. “Immigrants are our brothers and sisters,” he said, celebrating Mass in Spanish on a recent Sunday. The government may demonize them, but “they aren’t our enemies.” He told parishioners of their responsibility to fight for … [Read more...]
“Unconscionable tactics to drive asylum seekers deep into the desert”
San Jose Bishop Patrick McGrath tells large crowd at Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph that he is "profoundly disturbed and disheartened" by U.S. immigration policyJuly 19, 2018 8 Comments
The Catholic diocese of San Jose held a prayer service for immigration reform and reunification of migrant families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border Tuesday night at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph. Bishop Patrick McGrath presided over the service and began with, “pray for those who can’t come to public service such as this” to an almost-packed church. The prayer … [Read more...]
An evening of prayer and solidarity for migrant families and immigration reform
Bishop Patrick McGrath calls on Catholics to join vigil for immigrants at Cathedral Basilica of San Jose on July 17July 10, 2018 19 Comments
Dear Brothers and Sisters, In light of the recent developments on the US ~ Mexico border with families being separated, I am calling all Catholics from our Diocese to join me in an evening of prayer and solidarity for migrant families and immigration reform. This vigil will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of San Jose on Tuesday, July 17th, from 7-8 PM. There will be … [Read more...]
“Family separation did not begin with this administration”
Archbishop José Gomez reflects on recent trip to international border at McAllen, TexasJuly 6, 2018 12 Comments
I am writing from McAllen, Texas, where I have joined some of my brother bishops to pray and try to bring hope to the hundreds of undocumented children being detained here and in nearby Brownsville. McAllen is in the Rio Grande Valley, about five miles north of the Mexican border. It is now the center of the humanitarian crisis caused by our government’s policy of separating … [Read more...]
