US bishops declare solidarity with immigrants, refugees

Central American migrants in Mexico Credit Peter Haden via Flickr CC BY 20 CNA 1 8 16

Central American migrants in Mexico. | Peter Haden via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).

Washington D.C., Jan 3, 2020 / 10:43 am

Anticipating its observance of National Migration Week, the US bishops' conference said Thursday that it stands in solidarity with immigrants and refugees.

National Migration Week is observed this year Jan. 5-11, with the theme "Promoting a Church and a World for All."

"As a founding principle of our country, we have always welcomed immigrant and refugee populations, and through the social services and good works of the Church, we have accompanied our brothers and sisters in integrating to daily American life," Bishop Mario Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chair of the US bishops' Comittee on Migration, said Jan. 2.

"National Migration Week is an opportunity for the Church to prayerfully unite and live out the Holy Father's vision to welcome immigrants and refugees into our communities and to provide opportunities that will help them and all people of good will to thrive," he added.

According to the USCCB, "For nearly a half-century, National Migration Week has been observed in the United States to highlight the situation of immigrants and refugees and unite in prayer to accompany them."

The conference noted that globally, more than 70 million people have been forcibly displaced by political instability, violence, and economic hardship.