Washington, D.C., Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala stressed that Catholics need to educate themselves on the facts of the U.S. immigration system and Church teachings. The bishop expressed hope for the future of U.S. immigration, noting strong interest from people seeking to become informed. The core of the Church's stance on immigration is the preservation of human dignity for every person, regardless of citizenship status. Government enforcement of immigration laws must be conducted humanely, respecting the dignity of every individual. Menjivar-Ayala pointed out that the current administration has not engaged in dialogue with the Catholic Church on immigration, unlike previous administrations.
19 days ago
Washington D.C. Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala spoke at a packed panel on immigration at the New York Encounter on February 15, 2026, titled “Seeking a Home: A Catholic View on the Status of Immigration to the U.S.”1 2 3
He expressed hopefulness about immigration's future, citing strong public interest in getting informed.1 2 3
The bishop urged Catholics to learn the facts about the U.S. immigration system and Church teachings, calling the social doctrine "the best-kept secret."1 2 3
He emphasized educating oneself on the social dimension of faith.1 2 3
Central to Church teaching is the dignity of every person, documented or undocumented, where migrants reflect the face of Christ.1 2 3
Governments must enforce laws and protect sovereignty humanely, looking into "the eyes of the person."1 2 3
The bishop highlighted a lack of dialogue with the Church, unlike prior administrations that consulted groups like CLINIC.1 2 3
He criticized equating unauthorized crossings with crimes like murder, noting immigration laws differ from criminal ones.1 2 3
Responding to "border czar" Tom Homan's claim that the Church is "wrong" on immigration, Menjivar-Ayala questioned how such Catholics live the Gospel.1 2 3
Politics should be informed by faith, not vice versa.1 2 3
Enforcement in D.C. Catholic communities, like Sacred Heart Shrine, is "dying down a bit" after August 2025 ICE detentions of six parishioners.1 2 3
Affected communities have grown tighter-knit, providing mutual support amid uncertainty.1 2 3
Panelists Mario Russell and Ashley Feasley described the U.S. system as outdated since the 1990s, blaming Congress's inaction on reform bills.1 2 3
Russell encouraged reading migration reports, questioning ICE targeting workers rather than criminals.1 2 3
Examine how Catholic doctrine defines humane immigration enforcement
Catholic doctrine on immigration, rooted in the Church's social teaching, affirms the sovereign right of nations to secure their borders while insisting that enforcement measures must always prioritize the inherent dignity of every human person, created in God's image. Humane immigration enforcement is thus characterized by proportionality, respect for human rights, family unity, due process, and access to humanitarian protections like asylum, rejecting any "enforcement-only" approaches that emphasize punishment over integration and mercy. This balance reflects principles articulated in documents such as Strangers No Longer and papal teachings, where the right to migrate for survival is weighed against a nation's duty to the common good, ensuring enforcement serves human flourishing rather than dehumanization.
At the heart of Catholic teaching is the recognition that immigration involves "human persons created in the image and likeness of God, each one of them a brother or sister to us all." The Church upholds a natural right to migrate, particularly when necessary to sustain life and family, as affirmed in Pacem in Terris and echoed in U.S. bishops' statements. Yet this right is not absolute; it must be balanced with the "right of countries to maintain their borders" and the corresponding duty of immigrants to respect the host nation's laws.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (no. 2241) clarifies that political authorities may impose "various juridical conditions" on immigration for the common good, including immigrants' duties toward their adopted country. However, this sovereignty is limited by the Gospel mandate to welcome the stranger (cf. Mt 25:35), prohibiting measures that treat migrants as threats rather than persons. Enforcement must therefore avoid "punitive sanctions" that undermine family unity or humanitarian protections, as these contradict the Church's call to charity.
Catholic doctrine defines humane enforcement through specific, non-negotiable criteria derived from pastoral guidelines and episcopal advocacy:
Proportionality and Humane Implementation: Border security measures must be "proportional and humanely implemented," including "appropriate training and oversight components" to prevent abuses. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development's guidelines emphasize that nations "have the right to take measures against irregular immigration, with due respect for the human rights of all." This rules out disproportionate emphasis on deterrence or penalties that erode due process.
Balanced Approaches Over Enforcement-Only Policies: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) consistently opposes "enforcement-only" strategies as "unjust and fiscally unsustainable," which erode access to legal processes and target families or children. Instead, humane enforcement pairs security with "expanded legal pathways, ensure[s] family unity, and preserve[s] due process protections." For instance, the USCCB has supported bipartisan bills like the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act and the 2013 Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which combined enforcement resources with regularization for long-term residents and new immigration pathways.
Humanitarian Infrastructure and Root Causes: Enforcement is humane when it includes "critical infrastructure to meet humanitarian needs and provide orderly and reliable processing" at borders. This extends to addressing "root causes of migration" through development aid, preventing unnecessary movement while aiding those in desperate need. Catholic ministries exemplify this by providing meals, shelter, medical care, and legal orientation without encouraging irregularity, as such services align with Leviticus 19:34 and civil religious freedom protections.
Protection for Vulnerable Groups: Special emphasis is placed on asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, Dreamers, and trafficking victims. Solutions must not "jeopardize the sanctity of families or unaccompanied children," providing paths to citizenship where just. Enforcement that restricts asylum access or ignores violence in migrants' homelands (e.g., Central America) fails this test.
The USCCB's legislative priorities illustrate these principles in practice. In 2023, they urged Congress to reform immigration by promoting "integration" and "humanitarian protections," criticizing failures to provide border infrastructure amid rising arrivals. Earlier statements, like the 2018 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, warned against sharp increases in enforcement spending without aid for the vulnerable, insisting on bipartisan solutions that protect Dreamers and balance borders with migration rights. Most recently, in 2025, they decried bills promoting "unmitigated enforcement efforts" against families, calling for rectification to safeguard the poor and asylum processes.
These positions stem from a "comprehensive vision of human flourishing" in Catholic teaching, rejecting politicized extremes like "open borders" (which the Church does not advocate) or blanket opposition to security (which it supports when balanced). The USCCB weighs bills against doctrine, endorsing those that advance the common good without sacrificing dignity.
In summary, Catholic doctrine defines humane immigration enforcement as sovereign border control exercised with mercy, proportionality, and integral human development—securing the nation while welcoming Christ in the migrant. This demands policies that integrate enforcement with legal avenues, protections, and global solidarity, as modeled by the USCCB and Vatican guidelines. By these measures, nations fulfill their duty to both justice and charity.