Catholics process in Washington, head to Congress in solidarity with migrants
Over 100 Catholics gathered in Washington, D.C., for a Mass and procession near the U.S. Capitol to express solidarity with migrants on Sept. 15, 2026. The Dorothea Project organized the event, aligning it with the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, and the procession ended at Upper Senate Park, adjacent to the Capitol. Bishop Gary Studniewski led the Mass and urged attendees to support migrant dignity, highlighting injustice faced by immigrants. Participants met with congressional staffers afterward to advocate for policies that protect migrant families and uphold human dignity.
14 days ago
More than 100 Catholics gathered in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 15 for Mass, a procession, and a rally supporting migrants. The event concluded with meetings between participants and congressional staffers focused on migrant dignity, family safety, and human life.
The Dorothea Project organized the gathering to coincide with the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. The organization’s name honors Dorothy Day and Sister Thea Bowman, both of whom are recognized as servants of God.
Participants attended Mass at St. Peter’s Church on Capitol Hill, celebrated by Washington Auxiliary Bishop Gary Studniewski. They then processed less than a mile to Upper Senate Park, adjacent to the U.S. Capitol, while praying the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary.
In his homily, Studniewski connected Mary’s presence at the crucifixion to accompanying people who suffer injustice. He said migrants, immigrants, and strangers facing mistreatment should know that they are not alone and are loved.
Anna Marie Gallagher, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, described the event as taking place during a “difficult and frightening moment” for immigrant communities. She said deportations affect people who have lived, worked, worshipped, raised children, and contributed to U.S. communities for years.
Gallagher also said immigration circumstances are more complex than a simple distinction between “legal” and “illegal.” She pointed to people whose protected status expires or who struggle to move from temporary to permanent status, including individuals who may find that immigration rules have changed around them.
She called for policies grounded in family safety, human life, and human dignity, and told migrants that their dignity does not depend on immigration status.
Many participants carried signs featuring Our Lady of Sorrows and the words “dignity, family, solidarity.” Art Laffin of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker movement carried a handwritten sign calling for welcoming immigrants rather than detaining and deporting them.
Kathy O’Leary, who traveled from New Jersey, said she attended to connect with Catholics taking action and to show love for neighbors. She credited Pope Leo XIV and the U.S. bishops with encouraging participation through their statements supporting migrants.
Human-rights attorney and activist Frank Panopoulos also welcomed statements from the pope and bishops, but said the message had not yet reached enough Catholics in the pews to prompt broader action. He said migrant-support gatherings should attract crowds comparable to those associated with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Ken Cooper, a retired religion teacher, said he attended because welcoming strangers means welcoming Christ. He referred to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25 that people should treat every human being as Christ.
After the rally, the Dorothea Project organized groups to visit several congressional offices where meetings had been arranged. The discussions centered on the dignity of migrants.
Dorothea Project founder Katie Holler said the organization was encouraged by the turnout from people who traveled both locally and from farther away. She said the advocacy of Pope Leo XIV and the U.S. bishops created favorable conditions for bringing more Catholics into public action on behalf of migrants.
Investigate Catholic advocacy for migrant dignity in U.S. policy
Catholic advocacy in the United States seeks a humane immigration system that protects migrant dignity while recognizing legitimate border sovereignty. The USCCB does not advocate “open borders”; it argues that enforcement and border control must respect human life, family unity, due process, and the needs of people fleeing persecution.
The bishops ground their position in the dignity of every human person, created in God’s image. They describe immigration as fundamentally involving “human persons,” not merely legal categories or economic units. Catholic teaching therefore recognizes both:
This produces a balanced position: neither unrestricted migration nor border enforcement without moral limits is acceptable. Border policies must be proportionate, humane, and consistent with basic rights.
USCCB advocacy consistently calls for reform rather than piecemeal enforcement. Its recommended elements include:
The bishops also support protection and a path to citizenship for “Dreamers”—people brought to the United States as children—while warning that legislation for them should not weaken protections for other children or family-based immigration.
Catholic advocacy does not reject border security. It supports governments’ responsibility to protect residents and maintain orderly borders, but insists that such policies meet humanitarian standards. The USCCB has urged adequate infrastructure, reliable processing, oversight, and proportional implementation of enforcement measures.
This means Catholic policy advocacy favors enforcement that protects public safety rather than enforcement designed primarily to frighten, punish, or deter vulnerable people.
A particularly concrete proposal is replacing unnecessary detention with community-based alternatives, especially case management and legal-support programs. The bishops argue that most people pursuing immigration claims should be able to do so with their families and in their communities rather than behind bars.
They have also advocated federal funding for legal assistance, asylum processing, citizenship services, refugee admissions, and programs that help qualified permanent residents integrate and naturalize.
Catholic advocacy gives special attention to:
The Church identifies human trafficking as a grave crime and supports protection and, where appropriate, permanent legal status for victims, especially children.
Catholic organizations combine public advocacy with practical service: welcoming migrants, supporting refugees, assisting families, providing legal and social services, and promoting integration. The USCCB describes this ministry as part of the Church’s longstanding effort to protect human dignity and help newcomers participate successfully in American society.
Serving undocumented migrants is not presented as approval of every form of unlawful entry. Rather, Catholic ministries distinguish between a person’s immigration status and his or her inherent dignity and urgent humanitarian needs. Catholic teaching still recognizes the duty to respect law, while insisting that laws themselves be just and humane.
Catholic advocacy is best understood as a rights-and-responsibilities framework:
The supplied materials establish the Church’s principles and policy priorities, but they do not permit a current assessment of whether particular 2026 federal or state policies comply with them.