Refugees

The Latest

Syrian Refugees.

The Catholic Church's long history of resettling refugees in the US

Jun 21, 2018

By Courtney Mares

The Catholic Church has resettled nearly one-third of all refugees received by the United States since 1980 through a public-private... Read more

Central Americans walk from Mexico to the U.S. side of the border to ask authorities for asylum on April 29, 2018 in Tijuana, Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Immigration ruling 'closes the door' to victims of abuse, gang violence

Jun 12, 2018

A ruling by the U.S. attorney general that victims of domestic abuse and gang violence may no longer qualify for... Read more

A woman at Sharia Al Haman Hope Refugee Camp in Duhok, Iraq on March 28, 2015.

Global campaign urges greater involvement to help migrants, refugees

Jun 7, 2018

By Elise Harris

Organizers of the international “Share the Journey” campaign are urging Catholics to step up and interact with migrants and refugees... Read more

Refugee from Mosul.

Pro-refugee sentiment drops, especially low among white Evangelicals

May 27, 2018

Americans’ belief in a duty to accept refugees has dipped, according to a survey showing that white Evangelicals are among... Read more

The flag of Venezuela.

Vatican promotes 'Bridges of Solidarity' for Venezuelan emigrants

May 7, 2018

By Elise Harris

The ongoing crisis in Venezuela has produced a tremendous flow of emigration, with thousands fleeing the instability and hyperinflation under... Read more

Vietnamese flag.

Critics blast US crackdown on protected Vietnamese immigrants

Apr 18, 2018

By Kevin J. Jones

Thousands of Vietnamese immigrants in the U.S. who were previously protected under an agreement largely for refugees fleeing post-war Vietnam... Read more

Manyang Reath Kher speaks March 28 at a refugee rally outside the White House.

US bishops: 'Extraordinarily low' refugee limits harm the innocent

Mar 28, 2018

The U.S. bishops have voiced concern over the abnormally low levels of refugees admitted to the U.S. under the Trump... Read more

Child in South Sudan.

In South Sudan, 'the body of Christ is bleeding,' bishop says

Mar 23, 2018

By Elise Harris

On Friday an ecumenical delegation from South Sudan met privately with Pope Francis and again invited him to visit the... Read more

Destruction in Azaz, Syria, near the Turkish border.

The past seven years: A reflection on the Syrian Civil War

Mar 15, 2018

Seven years ago, on March 15, 2011, the Syrian Civil War began. Since then, the conflict in Syria has forced... Read more

Pope Francis greets Cardinal John Njue of Nairobi, president of the International Catholic Migration Commission, at the Vatican's Clementine Hall, March 8, 2018.

Pope Francis: Let Catholic social teaching guide migration policy

Mar 8, 2018

The Church is responsible for encouraging civil leaders to respond to migration on the basis of Catholic social teaching, the... Read more

Refugee mother and child.

Catholic groups welcome lifting of refugee ban from 'high-risk' countries

Jan 30, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Catholic organizations applauded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Jan. 29 announcement that it is lifting the ban on refugees... Read more

Refugees in Nigeria's Maiduguri diocese, September 2014.

Nigerian bishops deplore dehumanizing trends of violence

Jan 18, 2018

Nigeria's bishops challenged government authorities Tuesday to resolve the country’s violent disputes, especially after recent attacks by Fulani herdsmen have... Read more

Bishop urges Trump admin to extend protections for El Salvador migrants

Jan 3, 2018

The Bishop of El Paso is urging the Trump administration to extend a temporary residency program for Salvadoran migrants for... Read more

The Flight Into Egypt, Vittore Carpaccio

Commentary: Tribalism in the Christmas Octave

Dec 28, 2017

Pope Francis recently warned against the commercialization of Christmas, and reminded us that if our Christmas isn’t centered on Jesus,... Read more

Children displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The devastating but little-noticed DRC refugee crisis

Dec 8, 2017

By Kevin J. Jones

Every day, thousands of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are forced to flee their homes.  Read more

A tent camp in Haiti.

Vatican official calls Trump's Haiti move 'a sad decision'

Nov 24, 2017

By Elise Harris

One of the Vatican's top diplomatic voices has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's recent decision to end the Temporary Protected... Read more

Pope Francis greets a migrant at a welcoming hub near Cesena, Italy on Oct. 1, 2017.

Pope on migration: Peace isn't possible unless we go beyond polemics

Nov 24, 2017

By Elise Harris

When it comes to migration, Pope Francis said the world, particularly Christians, must approach the issue with a “contemplative gaze”... Read more

Cardinal DiNardo: This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for immigrants and refugees

Nov 23, 2017

In his Thanksgiving message, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he is grateful... Read more

Tima Kurdi. Courtesy of Tima Kurdi.

Two years later, aunt of drowned refugee child pleads for action

Nov 20, 2017

By Elise Harris

“We're still grieving” – these are the words of Tima Kurdi, the aunt of the young refugee boy who captured... Read more

Hondurans in US deserve protection and a permanent solution, bishops say

Nov 10, 2017

Extending Honduran migrants’ protected status is the “right thing to do” because of the dangerous situation in their country, the... Read more