Email from USCCB "The Church stands with migrants" Justice for Immigrants Biweekly Review: October 13-24, 2025 Celebrating 20 years of JFI! "The safety of a nation cannot come at the expense of violations of human dignity and surely the dignity of the undocumented can never be violated by unnecessarily aggressive tactics that go far beyond the task of apprehending people and which seem to be intended to terrorize and cause chaos, rather than fulfilling the noble calling of law enforcement." –Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago (October 14, 2025)  Updates and Resources NEW RESOURCE: DACA Update As the DACA program remains the subject of litigation, a court order is expected soon that is expected to have a significant impact on the program and who can benefit from its protection, as well as related work authorization. Under this forthcoming order, residents of Texas are likely to be impacted in unique ways. A new explainer is available from the USCCB in both English and Spanish. Statement of Cardinal Cupich on Standing with Migrants Archbishop of Chicago and USCCB Committee on Migration member Cardinal Blase Cupich released a video statement this week in solidarity with migrants: "I speak to you as your shepherd but also as a fellow pilgrim who shares the pain of many of our immigrant communities. Families are being torn apart, children are left in fear, and communities are shaken by immigration raids and detentions. These actions wound the soul of our city. Let me be clear. The Church stands with migrants." Watch the full statement here: Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic exhortation: Dilexi Te (I Have Loved You) Dilexi Te is an invitation to contemplate Christ’s love, that we may be inspired to become attentive to the suffering and needs of others, and to share in the work of liberation that flows from his love (no. 2). Dilexi Te is an exciting opportunity to be once again challenged and consoled by the call of Christ in the Gospel to love our neighbors. Pope Leo recognizes this work as “tangible proof of the authenticity of our love for God” (no. 26). The USCCB’s Secretariat of Justice and Peace welcomes the exhortation from the Holy Father and offers new resources to help your community unpack its rich message. Resources include a webpage, a four-page reflection guide and a prayer card inspired by Dilexi Te. This page will be updated as more resources become available to help your community respond to the call of Dilexi Te. Access the resource here. Binational Encuentro: Migrants, Pilgrims of Hope in Christ: On October 12, Bishops from the US and Mexico held a binational mass at the U.S.-Mexico Border in San Luis to call attention to the urgent crisis facing migrants: "To migrants and refugees, our fellow travelers on the journey, we recognize your inherent and inviolable dignity, which no earthly authority can deny, and we remain committed to walking with you, following in the footsteps of the Good Samaritan."  Read the full statement here. One Church, One Family – Catholic Public Witness for Immigrants On October 22, Catholics across the U.S. joined in a national day of public witness for our immigrant brothers and sisters. This effort builds on the binational mass described above. A second opportunity to participate in this effort is November 13, Mother Cabrini's feast day. Register public witness here. ICYMI – Jubilee of Migrants We celebrated the Jubilee of Migrants earlier this month, and Committee on Migration chairman Bishop Seitz met with Pope Leo in Rome. Read USCCB's Jubilee of Migrants packet here. Watch Bishop Seitz's full remarks during ICMC's Jubilee webinar here: ICYMI – Amicus Brief in Mennonite Church USA v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security: This lawsuit was brought against the Trump Administration by Christian and Jewish organizations to challenge the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s rescission of the protected areas (otherwise known as “sensitive locations”) policy earlier this year. The USCCB submitted an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, supporting the argument that the rescission of the policy has put the plaintiffs in an untenable position: “they either increase the risk to their congregants of harmful enforcement action by maintaining the obligation to attend weekly services, or limit the provision of in-person religious services to their congregants in response to the imminent threat of an enforcement action, and their congregants’ well-founded fears thereof.” You can read the USCCB's full brief here and learn about the case itself. Missionaries of Hope In honor of this year's theme for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees we will share hopeful articles, homilies, and videos in each newsletter. Click here to read Pope Leo's message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Bishop William Wack Statement during Respect Life Month, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahasse: "As a pro-life people, can we support the separation of families with mixed immigration status? Can we, in good conscience, endorse policies that deport a working father – knowing the devastating impact it will have on his family – without also acknowledging his contributions to our communities? Can we accept that more children are being pushed into the foster care system because both parents have been deported? Can we continue to ignore the cry of the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers – members of our own parishes – with whom we share the Eucharist every Sunday?" Cardinal Cupich's Statement, Archdiocese of Chicago: "In this moment it is important to state clearly that keeping the nation safe and respecting human dignity are not mutually exclusive. In fact one cannot exist without the other. The safety of a nation cannot come at the expense of violations of human dignity and surely the dignity of the undocumented can never be violated by unnecessarily aggressive tactics that go far beyond the task of apprehending people and which seem to be intended to cause fear and chaos, rather than fulfilling the noble calling of law enforcement. No one working in this noble calling should be put in the position of acting this way. Not only do they risk violating the dignity of others but such activity is beneath their own dignity." Bishops Call for Solidarity with Immigrants in Binational Pilgrimage and Mass, OSV News: "Bishop Kicanas, who led the Diocese of Tucson for nearly 15 years before retiring in 2017, recounted his experiences of blessing migrants. 'I could see that they were worried, anxious, but they believed in the Lord, and they understood that each of them was a person of infinite value,' he said." Catholic coalition holds nationwide prayer vigils at ICE offices, OSV News: "A coalition of Catholic organizations held prayer vigils across the country on Oct. 22 for what organizers called 'a national day of public witness for our immigrant brothers and sisters.' The vigils came amid growing concern from some faith communities — including a Catholic parish in Chicago — about the impact of the Trump administration’s rollback of a policy that prohibited immigration enforcement in sensitive locations, such as churches, schools, and hospitals." 'Christ is to be encountered among the poor' Archbishop Wenski speaks on Pope Leo XIV's first papal exhortation Dilexi te: "In this exhortation, Pope Leo XIV also calls for a “change in mentality” to free us from the illusion of happiness derived from a comfortable life that pushes many people towards a vision of life centered on the accumulation of wealth and social success. He also calls for opposing slavery, defending women who experience exclusion and violence, making education available to all, accompanying migrants, charitable giving, and working for equality and more." Pope Leo Is Becoming Increasingly Vocal About Defending Immigrants From Trump’s Crackdown, Time: "The issue has become personal for the Pope in recent weeks as Trump has focused his crackdown on Chicago, Pope Leo’s hometown. The day after the meeting of Bishops on Oct. 8, Pope Leo met with union leaders from Chicago and urged them to advocate for immigrants, just as the Trump Administration was trying to deploy the National Guard in the city to assist with its immigration crackdown." ICE Enforcement Impacts Immigrant Priests, Seminarians, and Religious in the US, OSV News: "Bishop Joseph J. Tyson of the Diocese of Yakima in central Washington wrote in a recent newsletter that several seminarians in the diocese were among them, including one who was born in the U.S. but left to be with his parents, who had self-deported to Mexico." Welcomer of the week Bishop Tyson shares how immigrants are integral to the Diocese of Yakima: "we're the largest border diocese without a border... Most of our parishioners attend mass in Spanish... Life is so different on the granular level in Yakima than what you would read in the national narrative." Bishop Tyson reflects on Pope Francis' letter to the US bishops and the meaning of ordo amoris: "how we love the poor and the marginal really tests the quality of our love for our friends, our family, our immediate neighbor."   Share & Stay Connected Visit the JFI website, follow us on X and Instagram, or email us! 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