The Catholic Church’s Stance on Immigration, Explained

I found this article (“The Catholic Church’s Stance on Immigration, Explained”) looking at Catholic teachings on immigration of interest — and relevant.  In February, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Catholic Annunciation House for assisting immigrants unlawfully entering the country and refusing law enforcement’s requests for documents, accusing the nonprofit of “human smuggling.” The legal action brings up the question of Catholic teachings on immigration.

The complaint alleges that Annunciation House is engaged in “human smuggling” because it “contracts with a local company once or twice a week to transport migrants in passenger vans” and “knows that at least some of the aliens it provides services to are present illegally and are trying to avoid Border Patrol.”

Annunciation House claims that they are simply ministering to people in need. Its website states that “In a Gospel spirit of service and solidarity, we accompany the migrant, refugee, and economically vulnerable peoples of the border region through hospitality, advocacy, and education. We place ourselves among these poor so as to live our faith and transform our understanding of what constitutes more just relationships between peoples, countries, and economies.”  Catholic bishops from around the country defend Annunciation House’s work, and the right to carry out the charitable tenets of its faith.

The Catholic Church’s teaching on immigration grounds starts with the biblical commands on the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. In Leviticus 19:33-34, God commanded the Israelites to welcome aliens and to treat them justly: