A Pastoral Note to Migrants from the Catholic Bishops in Michigan
February 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We, the Roman Catholic Bishops in Michigan, write to offer our continued pastoral and prayerful support for migrant individuals and families who over the course of time have entered the country and today are making a living in this state. Our fraternal closeness to you and other immigrants, refugees, and those seeking humanitarian asylum is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where we find “I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me… Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:35,40).
We hear and empathize with families across the state who express anxiety and fear over mass deportations and harmful rhetoric that broadly demeans our immigrant brothers and sisters. As shepherds of our flocks, we pledge amid such uncertainty to promote through the Michigan Catholic Conference and in our respective dioceses unyielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our midst.
We urge our elected officials to support policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and united, and to protect those who arrived as children. We call on the Michigan congressional delegation to work for a humane immigration system that welcomes refugees and immigrants by providing a fair pathway to citizenship; one that also keeps borders safe and secure from criminal activity, including human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal drugs.
Mindful of the dire conditions from which many travel, oftentimes with children through great difficulty and despair, we encourage you, our migrant brothers and sisters, to be strengthened by our Lord’s words “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you… Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). Never fail to keep your faith and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, who promises a divine kingdom that we strive to inherit and together call our true home.
With abundant love and trust, we ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to hear the cries of the suffering and offer to her maternal compassion and protection all who seek her heavenly intercession.
In Christ,
- Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron
- Archbishop of Detroit
- Most Rev. Earl Boyea
- Bishop of Lansing
- Most Rev. Arturo Cepeda
- Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
- Most Rev. John F. Doerfler
- Bishop of Marquette
- Most Rev. Robert Fisher
- Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
- Most Rev. Robert D. Gruss
- Bishop of Saginaw
- Most Rev. Edward M. Lohse
- Bishop of Kalamazoo
- Most Rev. Jeffrey Monforton
- Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
- Most Rev. David J. Walkowiak
- Bishop of Grand Rapids
- Most Rev. Jeffrey J. Walsh
- Bishop of Gaylord
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Catholic Teaching on Immigration
February 2025
What does the Church say about illegal immigration and undocumented migrants?
The Catholic Church affirms the rule of law and encourages the use of lawful immigration pathways. The Church does not encourage unnecessary or irregular migration. “Ideally, unnecessary migration ought to be avoided; this entails creating in countries of origin the conditions needed for a dignified life and integral development” (Fratelli tutti, no. 129). The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens” (No. 2241).
Does the Catholic Church advocate for “open borders”?
No. The Catechism clearly states that political authorities “may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions” (No. 2241). This includes a sovereign country’s right to regulate and secure its borders. The Church does maintain, however, that this right must always be balanced with the duty to welcome newcomers with charity and respect for the human person, as well as the rights to life and religious liberty.
What is the Church’s perspective on federal immigration reform and “mass deportations”?
As recognized by the Church for decades, the current immigration system is inadequate to address the needs of American families, employers, and communities, as well as immigrants themselves. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has consistently supported increased opportunities for legal immigration and the protection for immigrants’ due process rights, while opposing an enforcement-only approach to immigration. Further, enforcement actions should be targeted, proportionate, and humane, and deportations and other enforcement actions should always be carried out with due regard for families, community ties, and religious liberty interests. In its most recent message on immigration, the USCCB stated that the country’s immigration system should be one that:
- Offers fair and generous pathways to full citizenship for immigrants living and working for many years within this country.
- Keeps borders safe and secure, with enforcement policies that focus on those who present dangers to society, particularly efforts to reduce gang activity, stem the flow of drugs, and end human trafficking.
- Provides permanent relief for childhood arrivals, helps families stay together, and welcomes refugees.
- Serves as an effective asylum system for those fleeing persecution and protects vulnerable migrants and their families, many of whom have already been victimized by criminal actors.
Why do Catholic organizations serve people who enter the U.S. without authorization?
Faithful to Jesus’ mandate to “welcome the stranger,” Catholic-affiliated organizations provide basic human needs to migrants because all people are made in God’s image and likeness and inherently possess human dignity. There is no evidence or research indicating that the humanitarian and religious services provided by Catholic organizations incentivize unlawful migration, as there are varied and often complex factors that influence a person’s decision to migrate from their home country, including war, persecution, violence, lack of jobs, famines, and natural disasters.
Visit usccb.org/migrationministries for more FAQs and to learn how the Church serves migrants.
Prayer for Migrants and Refugees
Lord Jesus, when you multiplied the loaves and fishes, you provided more than food for the body, you offered us the gift of yourself, the gift which satisfies every hunger and quenches every thirst! Your disciples were filled with fear and doubt, but you poured out your love and compassion on the migrant crowd, welcoming them as brothers and sisters.
Lord Jesus, today you call us to welcome the members of God’s family who come to our land to escape oppression, poverty, persecution, violence, and war. Like your disciples, we too are filled with fear and doubt and even suspicion. We build barriers in our hearts and in our minds.
Lord Jesus, help us by your grace,
- To banish fear from our hearts, that we may embrace each of your children as our own brother and sister;
- To welcome migrants and refugees with joy and generosity, while responding to their many needs;
- To realize that you call all people to your holy mountain to learn the ways of peace and justice;
- To share of our abundance as you spread a banquet before us;
- To give witness to your love for all people, as we celebrate the many gifts they bring.
We praise you and give you thanks for the family you have called together from so many people. We see in this human family a reflection of the divine unity of the one Most Holy Trinity in whom we make our prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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