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Note: The following piece was co-authored by Providence Associates Jane Fischer and Suzie Ray and is part of our 15th episode of the JUSTus podcast.
“It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help,” he told a meeting of German faithful at the Vatican. — Pope Francis, October 2016
“On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!” — Pope Francis, April 21, 2025
When we think about immigration, our first thoughts are Christopher Columbus, then the Pilgrims. Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean in 1492, and the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts in 1620. The Pilgrims were primarily driven by the desire to escape religious persecution and to create their own society in the New World. The voyage of Christopher Columbus was more about domination.
Immigration as we know it begins with European immigration to the Americas, particularly the voyages of Christopher Columbus and the arrival of the Pilgrims. Christopher Columbus’s arrival marked the beginning of European colonization. Leading to a significant influx of people to the Americas. The European powers were motivated by the desire for wealth, religious expansion, and national glory. This resulted at first with the establishment of colonies and the exploitation of indigenous populations.
Sister Marilu Covani at an immigration rally in Terre Haute.
About 72 million immigrants have come to the United States from different and more countries than their predecessors. Prior to 1965, U.S. immigration laws favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe while largely restricting immigration from Asia. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 opened the doors for immigrants from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Additionally, the Immigration Act of 1990 expanded legal immigration further, allowing individuals from a greater number of countries to enter the U.S. legally.
From 1840 to 1889, about 90 percent of U.S. immigrants came from Europe, including about 70 percent from Germany, Ireland. and the United Kingdom.
From 1890 to 1910, almost 90 percent of the immigrants who arrived came from Europe. Nearly 60 percent came from Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Russia-Poland.
Since 1965, about half of U.S. immigrants have come from Latin America, with about 25 percent from Mexico alone. About another 25 percent have come from Asia. Large numbers have come from China, India, the Philippines, Central America, and the Caribbean.
In 1970, the number of immigrants living in the U.S. was about a fifth of what it is today. This population’s growth accelerated after Congress changed U.S. immigration laws in 1965. The newest wave of immigrants has dramatically changed States’ immigrant populations. Today, Mexico remains the largest origin country for U.S. immigrants. However, immigration from Mexico has slowed since 2007, and the Mexican-born population in the U.S. has dropped. The Mexican share of the U.S. immigrant population dropped from 29 percent in 2010 to 23 percent in 2022. The table below shows countries of origin from 1980 to 2000, and note the increase of “Settlement States” for immigrants.
Settlement States
2000 — Mexico (Country of Origin): 31 (Number of States)
1980 — Germany (Country of Origin): 19 (Number of States)
1980 — Canada (Country of Origin): 11 (Number of States)
1980 — Mexico (Country of Origin): 10 (Number of States)
The U.S. foreign-born population reached a record 47.8 million in 2023, an increase of 1.6 million from the previous year. This is the largest annual increase since 2000. This is probably why we have heard about the large numbers of immigrants living in small towns such as Springfield, Ohio.
Sister Tracey Horan listens as Elmer Pena talks about his wife, Sonia Avile, who is had been detained at the Clay County Justice Center.
Often, especially during this political climate, we hear people say that immigrants need to become U.S. citizens and do it the “legal way.” However, it’s a very complex and somewhat broken legal process. There are language barriers, financial costs, a large amount of paperwork, along with background checks, misinformation, and the civics tests. The process can also be lengthy, potentially requiring a long waiting period on behalf of the applicant. Additional hurdles include potential legal issues in the applicant’s country of origin and the need to demonstrate a “good moral character”
The Legal Process to Become a Naturalized Citizen
To become a naturalized U.S. citizen, you must first determine your eligibility, complete and submit the 14-page Form N-400. A breakdown of the steps in becoming a U.S. citizen is as follows:
Determine Eligibility: You must be at least 18 years old, a permanent resident (green card holder) for a specified period (usually 5 years, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen), have continuously resided in the U.S. as a green card holder, and meet other requirements.
Complete and Submit Form N-400: This is the official Application for Naturalization. You will need to provide biographical information, residency history, and other details. A link to the N-400 form is here.
Biometrics Appointment: You will be required to attend a biometrics appointment to have your fingerprints and photographs taken.
Interview and Examination: You will attend an interview with a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer, where you will be tested on your English language skills and civics knowledge. Please view a sample of the English language test here.
Receive a Decision: USCIS will review your application and make a decision. You will be notified of the decision by mail or online.
Oath Ceremony: If your application is approved, you will receive a notice to attend a naturalization ceremony, where you will take the Oath of Allegiance and officially become a U.S. citizen.
N-400 or N-600?: Google AI reports that Form N-600 is used to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship, which confirms that you are already a U.S. citizen, while Form N-400 is used to apply for U.S. citizenship through the process of naturalization. The N-600 is typically used when citizenship is derived through parents who are U.S. citizens, while the N-400 is for those who are applying for citizenship after meeting the requirements for naturalization, such as holding a green card and meeting residency requirements.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Migrant Detention
All over the news, we hear about immigrants being pulled over and taken away by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
ICE has broad legal authority to enforce U.S. Immigration laws, national borders, and investigate transnational crimes. They can identify, apprehend, detain, and remove individuals who are considered removable from the United States. Additionally, ICE conducts federal criminal investigations into illegal cross-border activities, including the movement of people, goods, and money.
ICE was created in 2003, during the George W. Bush Administration, through a merger of the investigative and interior enforcement elements of the former U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. ICE now has more than 20,000 law enforcement and support personnel in more than 400 offices in the United States and around the world.
Partnerships have nearly doubled in this new Trump administration to allow ICE to delegate immigration enforcement duties through a program called 286(g). A complete list of police departments around the country that are involved in enforcement duties is illustrated in the article published by Markup.
Currently, there are 47,928 immigrants in custody as of April 6, 2025. Of those individuals, 46.4% have no criminal record. Just alone in March 2025, there were 22,927 immigrants booked into a detention facility by ICE. Texas has the most number of detainees 12,224, followed by Louisiana with 7,090.
ICE has removed 238 Venezuelan immigrants from Texas to a maximum security prison called Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) in El Salvador. The country’s president offered to take them for a price. The Trump administration negotiated and agreed to pay El Salvador $6 million a year to house them. What is disturbing about this is that the government has a list of their identities and found that an overwhelming majority have no apparent criminal convictions or even criminal records.
In more recent media reports, at least three children who are U.S. citizens have been deported alongside their mothers without due process and notification or allowance of communication with family members. One of the children, noted in the report, has a grave medical issue and is under the care of doctors. This child was reported to have been deported without the required medication to sustain their health or notification to the medical team of their status.
Immigration and the Catholic Church
Pope Francis on U.S. Deportation Policy:
In the Pope’s comments contained in a letter published Feb. 11, he wrote, “The act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution, or serious deterioration of the environment damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness.” While supporting a nation’s right to defend itself from people who have committed violent or serious crimes — he said a “rightly formed conscience” would disagree with associating the illegal status of some migrants with criminality.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) On The Impact of Deportations
“The Catholic Church is committed to defending the sanctity of every human life and the God-given dignity of each person, regardless of nationality or immigration status. Church teaching recognizes a country’s right and responsibility to promote public order, safety, and security through well-regulated borders and just limits on immigration. However, as shepherds, we cannot abide injustice, and we stress that national self-interest does not justify policies with consequences that are contrary to the moral law. The use of sweeping generalizations to denigrate any group, such as describing all undocumented immigrants as ‘criminals’ or ‘invaders,’ to deprive them of protection under the law, is an affront to God, who has created each of us in his own image. Pope Francis has stated, ‘No one will ever openly deny that [migrants] are human beings, yet in practice, by our decisions and the way we treat them, we can show that we consider them less worthy, less important, less human. For Christians, this way of thinking and acting is unacceptable.’
“While an emphasis on anti-trafficking is welcomed, several of the executive orders signed by President Trump this week are specifically intended to eviscerate humanitarian protections enshrined in federal law and undermine due process, subjecting vulnerable families and children to grave danger. The open-ended deployment of military assets to support civil immigration enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border is especially concerning. Meanwhile, policies barring the consideration of any humanitarian claims — including those of unaccompanied children and trafficking victims — have repeatedly failed to reduce irregular migration in a legal, sustainable, and humane manner.
“Preventing any access to asylum and other protections will only endanger those who are most vulnerable and deserving of relief, while empowering gangs and other predators to exploit them. Likewise, indefinitely halting refugee resettlement is unmerited, as it is already proven to be one of the most secure legal pathways to the United States. Even non-humanitarian legal immigration and naturalized persons are targeted by these policies in support of a so-called ‘unified American identity.’ Finally, the proposed interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment to limit birthright citizenship sets a dangerous precedent, contradicting the Supreme Court’s long standing interpretation.”
“We urge President Trump to pivot from these enforcement-only policies to just and merciful solutions, working in good faith with members of Congress to achieve meaningful, bipartisan immigration reform that furthers the common good with an effective, orderly immigration system. My brother bishops and I will support this in any way we can, while continuing to accompany our immigrant brothers and sisters in accordance with the Gospel of Life.”
Indiana Bishops on Immigration Reform
Archdiocese of Indianapolis, January 25, 2024 “A Moral Obligation”
“In Indiana, we continue to support meaningful reforms that affirm the desire of so many migrants who wish to contribute fruitfully to society. It is our hope that reasonable policies can uplift those who feel trapped by the challenges of navigating our country’s immigration system. Serious offenders with a history of harming U.S. citizens and immigrants, however, should not find protection under these reforms.
“I invite all in our Catholic communities to join me in supporting our migrant brothers and sisters as we advocate for meaningful immigration reform. As Catholics and Americans, we have a moral obligation to discern the difference between the vulnerable and those who hide among the vulnerable seeking to exploit them. May we never tire of being Christ-centered in our unity as People of God, Pilgrims of Hope, and Missionary Disciples of Jesus Christ, Savior of the World.”
Call to Action
What can we do to help immigrants during this scary time? To effectively stand up against ICE, we need to take proactive steps such as:
Support organizations in your community that provide legal and social support to detainees and their families
Share with community members the “Know Your Rights” information so they are prepared for potential encounters and document violations of rights
Organize rapid response networks to mobilize against raids
Advocate for change: end of ICE collaboration with local law enforcement
Write your elected officials and find out their positions on immigration, ICE policies, etc. and demand they take action
Get involved with local organizations that work to protect immigrants and advocate for policy change
Donate to support organizations that provide legal, social and financial assistance to those impacted by ICE
The St. John-St. Paul Collaborative Service Commission, in partnership with dedicated parishioners and staff, has established a POWIR program to assist Catholic Charities Boston with immigrant and refugee resettlement.
Ask your family and friends to pray the Catholic Prayer for Migrants and Refugees.
Sister Noella Poinsette, Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana, regularly visits detainees in Indiana’s Clay County ICE Detention Center. The song, “Come With Us, Emanuel” is a favorite of theirs. The link below will launch a YouTube recording of this song.
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, are a congregation of Roman Catholic women religious (sisters) who minister throughout the United States and Taiwan. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin founded the Sisters of Providence in 1840. The congregation has a mission of being God's Providence in the world by committing to performing works of love, mercy and justice in service among God's people.
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