Dear friends:
This week there comes to an end the presidential executive order deferring deportation of children of undocumented parents known as DACA. The program defers federal action for those individuals that, through no fault of their own, immigrated to the U.S. but have been raised here. These young people live among us with the hope that their immigration status may one day find a path toward legalization and citizenship. These individuals are known as DREAMERS.
The U.S. Catholic Conference of Catholic Bishops has asked all Catholics to participate and support DACA students. They insist that it is of the utmost importance to actively support our youth who, through no fault of their own, must live the consequences of the situation that demanded that their parents immigrate from their native country to the U.S., with their infant children, in search of a better life. This is the dream theses students hold dearly. The following is the message of the U.S. Bishops concerning the Church’s response to the DACA program.
Late last week, the Senate failed to achieve the 60 votes needed to move forward with debate on legislation to provide relief to Dreamers. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB President; Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, USCCB Vice President; and Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, together issued the following statement:
“We are deeply disappointed that the Senate was not able to come together in a bipartisan manner to secure legislative protection for the Dreamers. With the March 5th deadline looming, we ask once again that Members of Congress show the leadership necessary to find a just and humane solution for these young people, who daily face mounting anxiety and uncertainty.
“We are also announcing a National Catholic Call-In Day to Protect Dreamers. This coming weekend, we will be asking the faithful across the nation to call their Members of Congress next Monday, February 26, to protect Dreamers from deportation, to provide them a path to citizenship, and to avoid any damage to existing protections for families and unaccompanied minors in the process.
“Our faith compels us to stand with the vulnerable, including our immigrant brothers and sisters. We have done so continually, but we must show our support and solidarity now in a special way. Now is the time for action.”
In today’s Gospel we hear about the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus and the desire of his apostles to remain on the mountain with him. How wonderful it would be stay there safe and comfortable with Jesus? What a blessing it would be not to return to the troubles of the world. However, Jesus allowed for this vision and rest in order to form within his disciples a vision of what is to come, but only after a life dedicated to the service of God that may include suffering and death. In the same way, we too cannot be too comfortable
Muy Rev. Esequiel Sanchez