DeLauro Leads Catholic Democratic Members of Congress in Statement of Principles on Immigration
WASHINGTON —Today, US Representative Rosa DeLauro, along with 43 other Catholic Democratic members of Congress, released the following Statement of Principles regarding immigration enforcement:
“As Catholic Democrats in Congress, we are guided by a living Catholic tradition that affirms the dignity of every human life, advances the common good, and demands that we protect the most vulnerable in our society through a strong and compassionate safety net.
We feel called in solidarity to stand with immigrants—especially those who are poor, marginalized, or fleeing hardship—and to ensure they are treated with dignity, justice, and compassion. As Catholics and elected officials, we believe that addressing long-standing inequities and expanding meaningful opportunities for immigrants is an essential part of our responsibility to community and to those most in need.
We adhere to the three basic principles of Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration. First, we affirm that people have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families. Sacred Scripture consistently reminds us of our obligation toward the vulnerable and displaced. Jesus himself identifies with the migrant when he says, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mt 25:35). Pope Leo XIV in his first encyclical Dilexi Te writes “The Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking … And she knows that in every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community.”
Second, we believe every nation has the right to regulate its borders and to control immigration. Church documents are clear, “Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions.” As such, Catholic social teaching approaches migration with realism: it affirms the right of persons to seek safety and opportunity while recognizing the legitimate authority of nations to regulate their borders. Sound immigration policy is ordered, humane, and sustainable, balancing solidarity with prudence in service of human dignity and the common good.
Finally, while regulating borders is consistent with Catholic social teaching, it is never a license for cruelty, indifference, or dehumanization. Border enforcement must be governed by justice and mercy.
Too often, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have failed this moral standard. Their actions have separated families, removed law abiding individuals from our communities, and tragically, contributed to the deaths of detained migrants and citizens like Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Pope Francis in 2019 stated that the Church’s “response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate." As legislators, we are entrusted with a parallel responsibility under the United States Constitution and our immigration laws, which provide pathways for refugees and asylees to seek protection.
We therefore call on the Trump administration to embrace these same moral imperatives—ensuring that immigration policies reflect our nation’s legal obligations, uphold human dignity, and honor America’s longstanding commitment to justice and mercy. As leaders in Congress negotiate reforms to ICE and CBP, we must bear the Church’s teachings in mind to ensure we are supporting our immigrant brothers and sisters. We urge our fellow Catholics to use their voice to share views with their family, friends, and neighbors.”
Members of Congress signing the statement: Rosa L. DeLauro, Nancy Pelosi, Robert Garcia, Sam Liccardo, Debbie Dingell, Madeleine Dean, Gabe Amo, Timothy M. Kennedy, Gil Cisneros, Mary Gay Scanlon, Nanette Barragan, Betty McCollum, Ted Lieu, Sylvia Garcia, Susie Lee, Teresa Leger Fernández, Tom Suozzi, Kristin McDonald Rivet, Jesús “Chuy” García, Mike Thompson, Joaquin Castro, Mark DeSaulnier, Val Hoyle, Greg Stanton, Kevin Mullin, Joe Courtney , Chris Deluzio, Jimmy Panetta, George Latimer, Juan Vargas, John B. Larson, James P. McGovern, Nydia Velázquez, Brendan F. Boyle, Lori Trahan, Marcy Kaptur, Joseph D. Morelle, Paul D. Tonko, Richard Neal, Frank Pallone, Jr., Nellie Pou, Robert Menendez, Adriano Espaillat
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