FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet support refugees and immigrants.
We, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, are deeply troubled and concerned at the Trump Administration’s decision to terminate the “temporary protective status” (TPS) of nearly 200,000 Salvadorans who have made a life here in the United States. This is yet another very disturbing action against immigrants and refugees after the Muslim and refugee bans; the dramatic increase in arrests and deportations; the rescinding of DACA protections for nearly 800,000 Dreamers; the termination of TPS for Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Sudanese people; and the dramatic decrease in refugee resettlement.
We are inspired by our faith to welcome the immigrant and refugee. They contribute significantly to the workforce. They have established families and borne children in this country who are U.S. citizens. Natural disasters, wars, and violence caused them to seek refugee here in the United States. Now, they are being forced to abruptly return to these dangerous situations that made them flee their homelands.
We support and stand with all immigrants in this country. We call for action from our elected officials in Washington D.C. to enact just and humane laws that create permanent residency for those who call this country home through clean legislation that truly welcomes and protects our vulnerable and marginalized immigrant and refugee neighbors.
As Jesus said: “When did you see me a stranger and welcome me?” (Matthew 25:38).
And Pope Francis reminds us that “The wisdom of faith fosters a contemplative gaze that recognizes that all of us ‘belong to one family, migrants and the local populations that welcome them, and all have the same right to enjoy the goods of the earth, whose destination is universal, as the social doctrine of the Church teaches’” (Pope Francis’ 2018 World Day of Peace Message quoting from Pope Benedict’s 2011 World Day of Migrants and Refugees Message).
