• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington, chairman of the U.S. bishops' migration committee, speaks during a Nov. 16, 2022, session of the fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

In immigration update, bishop says there’s little progress on reform front

November 18, 2022
By Rhina Guidos
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, U.S. Bishops Meeting - Fall 2022, World News

Even though pushing for reforms in the U.S. immigration system has been a priority, “as we know, not much has happened,” Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington said Nov. 16.

The bishop, who is the outgoing chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops migration committee, made the remarks in a presentation at the bishops’ annual fall general assembly.

Lack of bipartisan support has impeded relief for a swath of migrant populations seeking to permanently legalize their status in the country, he said.

Yet as difficult as reform seems, “we, as the church, must continue to support” policy efforts to help those who still live “in the shadows,” who lack a way to stay and work in the country legally, he said.

Venezuelan migrants stand in a camp on the banks of the Rio Grande in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Nov. 14, 2022. Some of the migrants who had crossed into the U.S. illegally were expelled under Title 42, and others had not yet crossed into the U.S. when the Biden administration began implementing the health care rule used by the Trump administration. (CNS photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters)

The Catholic Church in the U.S., however, has been active in helping Afghans and Ukrainians seeking refuge in the U.S. through a variety of immigration programs that have allowed them in.

From staff to volunteers, Catholics have helped both populations in various refugee facilities, including on military bases as well as parishes, he said.  

“I’m proud of the staff and volunteers in particular,” he said, adding that a variety of Catholic organizations have provided programs to comfort children and adults who have had to flee their home countries.

But he also encouraged the bishops gathered in Baltimore to consider taking in a Ukrainian family in their respective dioceses as the war continues, and a cold winter will send many of them fleeing the country under attack by Russia.

“With winter upon us and with significant damage to infrastructure, numbers are rising,” he said. “I ask you to open your hearts to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and encourage the faithful in your diocese to do the same. Let us be messengers of Christ in this way.”

Anna Gallagher, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., known as CLINIC, also addressed the body of bishops to share efforts by the organization to serve immigrant men and women religious in obtaining religious worker visas.

“We are the experts in that area of the law,” she explained. “When a foreign-born priest, brother or sister is unable to obtain legal status and they need to carry out their mission in the United States, your community suffers from lack of pastoral care or other types of services they provide,” such as education, health care, spiritual or social services.

When there were significant delays in visa processing for religious workers in the last few years, “we released a policy brief in late 2021, which drew special attention to the backlog and processing delays (for) religious workers,” she said.

“We are happy to say,” she added, “that through our relentless advocacy, several of the recommendations we made have since been addressed by (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).”

She also spoke of how CLINIC, which she described as “the largest nonprofit immigration law firm in the country since our founding nearly 35 years ago” by U.S. bishops, is key in helping low-income migrants obtain legal representation.

“We represent the church’s primary effort to respond to the legal needs of our immigrant community members, needs that are growing more acute each year as our outdated immigration system is straining and cracking under pressure,” she said.

“As pastors, I am sure you hear of these needs, and you are grieved by the suffering of immigrant families in your communities,” Gallagher said. “We know that all of you are experiencing the impact of unmet immigration legal needs directly, not only for the members of your flock, but also for members of your own religious communities.”

Read More Immigration & MIgration

A ‘nation of immigrants’ should identify with migrants’ plight and human dignity, says Boston cardinal

At U.S.-Mexico border, migrants’ advocates call for action on U.S. asylum policy

West Virginia parishes, people help Ukrainians find safe haven in Mountain State

Papal message to focus on people’s right not to migrate

Welcoming migrants, refugees is first step toward peace, pope says

US extends stay for thousands of Ukrainians as war enters second year

Copyright © 2022 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Rhina Guidos

Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news. Its mission is to report fully, fairly and freely on the involvement of the church in the world today.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Pathfinders: Five Archdiocese of Baltimore women who made history
  • RADIO INTERVIEW: Dining with the Saints
  • Fire guts historic Catholic school in parish connected to St. John Neumann
  • Sister Elizabeth Ellen Kane, O.S.F., dies at 81
  • Notre Dame Cathedral reopening date announced as reconstruction on its famous spire wraps up in eastern France

| Latest Local News |

Catholic Charities’ William J. McCarthy Jr. named Loyola’s Business Leader of the Year

Sister Joan Cooper, O.S.F., dies at 94

Pathfinders: Five Archdiocese of Baltimore women who made history

| Latest World News |

Pope, World Council of Churches’ leaders talk about war, divisions

Pre-Vatican II Mass was formed by ‘clericalization,’ says papal preacher

Memorial to modern Christian martyrs opens in Rome

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pope, World Council of Churches’ leaders talk about war, divisions
  • Pre-Vatican II Mass was formed by ‘clericalization,’ says papal preacher
  • Memorial to modern Christian martyrs opens in Rome
  • Human composting, alkaline hydrolysis not acceptable for burial, say U.S. bishops
  • Pope advances sainthood causes of six candidates
  • Retired Milwaukee priest barred from hearing confessions over support of Delaware ‘repeal of seal’ law
  • Suspect pleads not guilty in murder of LA Auxiliary Bishop O’Connell
  • Avoid polarizing debate, promote healthy scientific discussion, pope says
  • CRS, USAID help Ethiopia ‘at a time of great need’ amid devastating drought

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED