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US Catholics and Evangelicals call for compassion and wisdom in immigration debate
In a joint ecumenical document, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Association of Evangelicals call for “compassion and wisdom” in the immigration debate affecting the country.
By Giovanni Zavatta
For the first time, prominent representatives of the Catholic Church and evangelical churches have joined forces to issue an extensive ecumenical statement on immigration.
Titled “A Call for Christian Compassion and Wisdom in the Immigration Debate,” it was released on Tuesday, October 13, and is signed by Bishop Brendan John Cahill, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, and Reverend Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE).
Bishop Cahill and Pastor Kim also serve as co-chairs of the Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue on Immigration (ECDI), an initiative established in March 2026 and composed of five evangelical and five Catholic members.
Widespread fear among families and communities
The statement explains that it comes at a time marked by a significant increase in detentions and deportations in the United States, especially in the wake of several groups of immigrants having their legal protections revoked by the government.
One example is the Haitian community, whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allowed them to reside in the United States, was revoked on July 27.
These developments are causing serious difficulties for families and communities whose members have different immigration statuses.
“There is much that can be done to avoid the rupturing of our families and communities brought about by indiscriminate and aggressive enforcement actions,” the statement emphasized.
“We have witnessed within our communities the sowing of fear, the fracturing of families, the deprivation of due process, and the vilification of our neighbors. In the midst of this state of affairs, we have also seen the hope instilled by faith in Jesus Christ and acts of loving care among neighbors.”
Legal protections must be strengthened
The two Christian leaders observe that, “in spite of the positive impacts many immigrants have made in our country, some over the course of multiple decades, the existing legal pathways to permanent status are extremely limited and out of reach for most.”
They reiterate that “only Congress is empowered to address these statutory shortcomings of our legal immigration system.”
The statement insists that Catholics and Evangelicals support immigration reform that would give long-term residents concrete opportunities to regularize their status.
In particular, they hope that “immigration is regulated and borders are secured using targeted, proportionate, and humane measures, protecting family unity and prioritizing enforcement against those who threaten public safety, always with respect for due process.”
The detention of nonviolent immigrants, especially children and families, must be “strictly limited,” ensuring that all detainees have effective access to chaplaincy and legal counsel. Such legal representation must include workers, family members, and people in need of humanitarian protection.
Catholics and Evangelicals united by the same concern
“What is unique about this statement is not the content, which is grounded in centuries of Christian teaching and tradition that we have already affirmed separately, but the clear unity that exists between us in this moment” and the “deep concern for those affected by current immigration policies,” the statement stresses.
The plight of Haitians who have lost Temporary Protected Status
As mentioned earlier, the situation of Haitians following the revocation of TPS is a particular cause for alarm. In recent weeks, Catholics and Evangelicals have separately intervened on several occasions to denounce the devastating consequences of this decision.
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the USCCB, wrote directly to President Donald Trump in September regarding the growing number of Haitians being forcibly repatriated from the US. He observed that the climate of violence and terror on the Caribbean island is far from over.
“I respectfully ask: What good is the immense wealth, prosperity, and influence with which we have been blessed as a nation if not used in service of our humanity?,” he wrote, urging the U.S. president to uphold fundamental rights, including the right to life.
The letter ended with an appeal to exercise “your authority under the U.S. Constitution to provide deferred enforced departure for Haitians peacefully residing in the United States.”
Similarly, several months ago, the National Association of Evangelicals joined World Relief, a global humanitarian organization inspired by evangelical Christianity, and dozens of religious leaders in urging Congress to establish a legislative pathway for Haitian nationals affected by the revocation of TPS.
TPS, which was established following Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake, “has provided stability for thousands of Haitian families for more than a decade, allowing them to raise U.S.-citizen children and contribute to their communities through work and service,” they noted.
Political instability, violence, and humanitarian crises persist in the Caribbean nation. Approximately 330,000 Haitians who have relied on TPS now face an uncertain future.
The National Association of Evangelicals called for a legislative solution to prevent deportations and family separations, particularly for the thousands of children who are U.S. citizens and risk being separated from one or both parents.
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