Catholic Bishops Launch ‘You Are Not Alone’ to Aid Immigrants Amid Policy Crackdowns
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched an initiative called 'You Are Not Alone' to support immigrant brothers and sisters. Bishop Mark J. Seitz, who spearheaded this effort, has expressed concern over the Trump administration's immigration policies. Bishop Seitz argued that the Trump administration's stance includes an unyielding commitment to mass deportation and limiting legal immigration. Since January, this commitment has led to detaining immigrants attending their immigration court hearings, targeting international students, and circumventing protections for unaccompanied children. The 'You Are Not Alone' initiative focuses on several key areas. These include emergency and family support, accompaniment and pastoral care, communications and church teaching, and solidarity through prayer and public witness. The initiative aims to provide practical and spiritual support to immigrants facing these challenges. Bishop Seitz, who serves in El Paso, Texas, urged the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to take further steps to show solidarity with immigrants. He expressed optimism about resolving a backlog in visas for religious workers due to attention from the Secretary of State and others. The 'You Are Not Alone' initiative reflects Catholic social teaching on immigration, balancing the right to migrate, a country's right to regulate borders, and a nation's duty to conduct regulation with justice and mercy. Bishop Seitz's efforts highlight the church's commitment to supporting immigrants and advocating for fair immigration policies.
