—USCCB Special Message on immigration, 12 November 2025

Encourage your diocese to live into USCCB’s immigration statement

Last Wednesday, November 12, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a Special Message on immigration, the first such action in 12 years. In brief, the statement expresses open opposition to the dehumanizing policies and practices present in the U.S., naming mass deportation as violence and encouraging all people to support immigrants in meeting their basic needs. It was approved by nearly 98% of the bishops, well beyond the required two-thirds.

The USCCB’s Special Message is a hopeful development on which to build. We urge you to write in gratitude to your bishop for this statement and offer your assistance in helping to live out the substance of their words. There are many ways this might happen in your diocese. The USCCB just launched “You are Not Alone”, an initiative with resources for parishes and dioceses to support immigrants and stand in solidarity with them. The Sisters of Mercy website also has a host of resources here. Here are some ways that people of faith have already begun the activity of solidarity:

• San Diego clergy witness proceedings in immigration court 
• Strangers No Longer Circles of Support in Michigan
• Ongoing faith leader demonstrations at Chicago’s Broadview ICE facility, including Sr. JoAnn Persch, who died last week and had joined attempts to bring holy Communion to detainees
• Knights on Bikes pray the rosary at hastily constructed Florida detention center

Dioceses and bishops vary in the best way to contact them. A paper letter, perhaps handwritten, is an excellent choice and creates something to hold in the hand, while an email is quicker and might elicit a more immediate response. A phone call creates a real-time connection with a person, but you might have a harder time reaching the bishop’s ears. The USCCB website has a page with contact information for each diocese; we encourage you to explore the website for yours to find the best way to reach out, express your thanks for their united message, and offer your support to bring the Special Message’s words to life in your area.

By the bishop’s words and our joint efforts, let us bring life to these words from the book of James: “Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from works, and I by my works will show you faith.”