Pax Christi USA members at the Journey for Justice in El Paso, TX
This past weekend Pax Christi USA members were at the “Journey for Justice,” an action and teach-in in El Paso, Texas put on by the Latinx Catholic Leadership Coalition and Hope Border Institute. At this action Catholic leaders accompanied 15 asylum-seekers, including three families, into the United States on the bridge between Juarez, Mexico and El Paso. On the Juarez side there were prayerful moments and legal advice given to a camp of rejected asylum-seekers and a blessing of the bridge in hopes for their safe passage into the U.S.
Every human being has the right to flee violence and seek safety, but the U.S. is ignoring the needs of asylum-seekers and actively throwing immigrants back into harm’s way or into inhumane detention centers. This has to stop. As Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso said in his pastoral letter on border racism and xenophobia, just released October 13, the eve of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, “Our highest elected officials have used the word ‘invasion’ and ‘killer’ over 500 times to refer to migrants, treated migrant children as pawns on a crass political chessboard, insinuated that judges and legislators of color are un-American, and have made wall-building a core political project. In Pope Francis’ words, these ‘signs of meanness we see around us heighten our fear of the other’.”
Call Department of Homeland Security and Demand Justice for Asylum-Seekers
As a Catholic community, we can no longer sit on the sidelines as we see how our immigrant community is being constantly attacked. Together, we have a strong voice and this is the time to use it!
In partnership with the Latinx Catholic Leadership Coalition, we are demanding that the White House and Department of Homeland Security recognize the following, and you can too!
Call the Department of Homeland Security:
Operator Number: 202-282-8000
Comment Line: 202-282-8495
Optional Script:
Hello, my name is (insert name) from (Location: City, State, Zip Code). In partnership with the Latinx Catholic Leadership Coalition, I am calling DHS Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan to demand humane changes on Immigration Policies. Our ask as Catholic leaders is to:
- Recognize the sacred covenant, internationally recognized, legal right to seek asylum
Stop the Remain in Mexico Program - Stop the use of the “metering list”
- Make Due Process the standard NOT the exception
- Collaborate with NGOs and society to support & expand humane services for Asylum Seekers
- Provide additional funding for immigration courts & asylum officers
- Grant a face-to-face meeting between the Latinx Catholic Leadership Coalition and the Acting Secretary for DHS, Kevin McAleenan
Thank you. (End call)
Thank you for participating in the National Call-In Day and joining the Journey for Justice.
Spread this call-in widely.
Learn more about the policy
Check out these immigration prayer resources
For more information go to www.latinxcatholicleadershipcoalition.org.