Finding Jesus in the eyes of immigrants

They cross foreign borders with families in tow, worry imbedded deep into the sun-creased wrinkles lining their faces, young and old alike.

Contrary to the images flashing across television screens, immigrants are much more than people crossing a river or scaling a fence to freedom.

Their eyes reveal a father struggling to provide for his family, a mother caring for her offspring, children wearing the concern of an uncertain future in a foreign land.

Left unspoken is the unspeakable horror they left behind in their native land, traveling hundreds of miles,  if not longer, to find refuge in a country where the Statue of Liberty rolls out the welcome mat daily.

“Probably one of the most politicized issues is the explosion around the world of men and women, families, children, seeking to immigrate to a better life,” Bishop Michael G. Duca said. “Seeking asylum, forced to flee their homes and seek a better life.”

“In a political world the immigrant, the refugee, the asylee, is looked on as the problem, mainly because their plight and the difficulties are so great,” he added. “Today we need to see this problem not through the eyes of politics. If we are truly Catholics, if we truly are disciples of Jesus Christ, the first place we go to frame our actions is going to be the Gospel. 

“It’s going to be how do we as disciples welcome the immigrant, those looking for a better life.”

Bishop Duca joined Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge executive director David Aguillard and CCDBR immigration services attorney Jeb Richard on March 10 for a YouTube presentation titled “Immigrants in Louisiana: A Catholic Perspective.”

The presentation included how the Diocese of Baton Rouge, specifically CCDBR, has responded to the immigration crisis, how Catholics are called to live out the Gospel message to accept immigrants and facts and figures clearly showing the value immigrants bring to the country.

Aguillard explained the often misinterpreted meanings of immigrants, refugees and asylees. He said immigrants are people in the United States with permission, coming to work, study or possibly for health reasons.

Refugees, he said, are people 

who have applied and gone through an extensive vetting process to be admitted to the U.S.

Asylees are those who “presented our borders” or have fear for their lives of religious persecution or political persecution returning to their home countries.

“In today’s realities these differences don’t necessarily apply,” Aguillard said. “I want to ask you to think about the people we are talking about the way I think about this: that they are fathers, parents, just like me, trying to do what is best for their families in conditions I can’t even imagine.”

Bishop Duca said immigrants do not want to leave their homes but need to do so to seek protection and peace, avoiding the evils that are being visited upon them. He said immigrants should not be demonized but viewed through “our own eyes, as equal, as men and women who are suffering and can we reach out and help them.”

“This issue calls for a deep dive to understand what it means to be a disciple and what it means to be a citizen of this word,” the bishop said. “This right to move around is based in the fundamental principle that men, women and children have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Bishop Duca said every country has a right to regulate its borders and control immigration but at the same time there must be order.

“We need to see our place in the human family, and we cannot regulate our borders for our own self-interest,” he said. “We must always be willing to recognize we need to find space in our country to help those in need as we would hope they would help us if we were going to them in time of need.”

“Last, a country must regulate its borders with justice and mercy,” Bishop Duca added. “Unfortunately, people coming to our country are treated more like criminals.”

He said thousands of men, women and children ar being held in detention centers around the state and while waiting for their cases to be heard, are being “treated as criminals from the beginning. 

“This is not justice and mercy. We can have laws but they need to be respectful of the human person. We need to treat every person as if they are Christ themselves.”

Aguillard noted that with Louisiana being adjacent to Texas, the state has the second highest number of detained immigrants in the nation. He explained that because of Louisiana’s prison reform laws passed several years ago, several parish prisons have been repurposed to house detainees who were either picked up at the borders or from other parts of the country. 

“This situation at the detention facilities really challenge us at the core of our Gospel and Catholic mission,” he said. “These are not friendly places. These are dehumanizing places.”

Richard, who works exclusively with many of those in the detention centers, acknowledged immigration law is complex as well as expansive. His legal services team primarily focuses on the legal orientation program and community based immigration.

Richard said by helping immigrants become citizens and residents they are being given permanence. Once an immigrant becomes a resident or citizen, the doors are open for potentially helping bring additional family members to the United States.

On a somber note, he mentioned that his team frequently assists with immigrants who are victims of abuse and are some of the most vulnerable members of the community. 

“Under the law, people who are victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, are provided special pathways  to live here safely and one day become citizens,” he said.

His team also assists with children who have special juvenile status, an important distinct because it helps with who are victims of abuse, abandonment or neglect by their parents to remain in the country legally and to become residents and citizens.

Aguillard also pointed out the positive financial impact immigrants have on the local economy, debunking the myth they are a strain on the economy and here to take jobs from Americans.

Rather than thinking about immigration in terms of the media frenzy or politicians seeking to score political points, Aguillard asked to focus what immigrants contribute to the country.

 “Overwhelming, it is a net positive,” he said.

He acknowledges security concerns and the popular myth that thousands of terrorist refugees have been allowed to enter the country. But he said the United States refugee program is one of the safest in the world and that the vetting process can last five to 15 years.

He said only about 5 to 10 percent of those applying to come to the United States are approved. 

Immigrants also have a tremendous financial impact to the economy, with a combined $3.6 billion in spending power. Statistics reveal immigrants contribute $415 million, undocumented $50 million in local and state taxes. 

They also contribute another $800 million, undocumented $73 million, in federal taxes.

“The myth is immigrants take American jobs but in fact they take jobs to create more jobs,” Aguillard said. “They provide infrastructure and occupational type (jobs) that create and sustain industries.”

According to recent date, 36% of immigrants work in the agriculture industry and an equal percentage in maintenance and landscaping. 

Aguillard said the final myth regarding immigration is “cemented in our minds. People swimming across the Rio Grande, or rushing fences or tearing down barriers. 

“That is a myth.”

He said most immigrants/refugees arrive legally with valid visas. He added  65 % arrive in American airports.

“They come to study, come to work,” he said.

“Through history, immigrants have energized our economy and energized our cultural diversity and vitality,” Aguillard said. “Not just economically net plus but being able to celebrate cultural diversity immigrants are a key part of our American identity.”

Bishop Duca said immigration is a worldwide effort, doing the work that many people would do. He asked people to get the facts, not just from the news, and learn to respond with Christian charity and love.

“Direct politicians to act with mercy and love,” he said. “There is always a place for mercy and love and treating people with the dignity they deserve.”

He also asked people to donate to catholiccharitiesbr.org