Tuesday, January 7, 2025:  'We Have To Be Accountable' in Leading at the Border, Says San Antonio Archbishop - Religion News Service

At a recent faith-based event, San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller's feet started moving as a mariachi played, and soon he was dancing with parishioners. Born in Mexico and the eldest of 15 children, he is the only immigrant leading a U.S. border diocese. The archbishop sees prayer as important in facing the challenges of anti-immigration policies at the state and federal levels because these problems cannot be solved at the human level alone. 

"We will not stop, because we want to please God, and to please God is to be of service to neighbors, no matter what faith, their color, if they have offended us or not. If somebody asks for help, we, with God's grace, can do something, knowing that we'll be multiplied in the giving," said Garcia-Siller.

Catholic Leaders on U.S.-Mexico Border Readying for Trump Era Deportation Policies 

Protecting parishioners from deportation is becoming a major ministry theme for Catholic leaders along the U.S.-Mexico border as President-elect Donald Trump has promised mass deportations when he takes office soon. For years, Texas faith leaders have been very involved in advocating for migrants at the state and federal levels and they are drawing on this experience now to support migrants and provide them spiritual comfort. "They had hope. This is not a time to give it away or to let somebody take it away. No matter how loud the voices are, you are you, and God is with you. God loves you. We love you," said Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller.

Migrants in U.S. Immigration Programs Potentially Vulnerable to Mass Deportation Push | OSV News

Most Americans expect President-elect Donald Trump to begin changing immigration policies when he takes office later this month, but it remains unclear what exact action will be prioritized and who exactly may be the focus of any immigration policy changes. Recipients of programs like Keeping Families Together, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and Temporary Protected Status are worried they may be the most vulnerable to deportation. 

Advocates and legal representatives are trying to prepare immigrants for what may come next. "It's not about panicking the community or individuals. It's being cautious — but vigilant — about this. That's what our community and vulnerable immigrant communities are feeling right now: They're looking at who can be leading us; who can be working with us," said Pedro Alemán Perfecto, a policy advocate at CLINIC.

Commentary: Implications of President-Elect Trump's Immigration Policies | LA Progressive

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to enter the White House, immigrants across the nation have evolved from being scared to feeling terrorized. During his first presidency, more than 200 executive orders and initiatives undermined persons seeking a safe haven in the United States. We can expect a continuation of these efforts as his stated plans include targeting undocumented immigrants, ending Temporary Protected Status for about 530,000 people, ending parole for more than 500,000 people, and ending the policy protecting undocumented immigrants at schools, religious institutions, clinics, and wedding ceremonies. But Trump will face the limits of law and public pushback.

Ending Birthright Citizenship Faces Moral, Legal Challenges | National Catholic Register

President-elect Donald Trump has said that he wants to end birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed by the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Some say birthright citizenship motivates undocumented immigrants to have children born on U.S. soil as a protection against their deportation. Opponents of ending birthright citizenship — including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — warn that ending it would threaten the human dignity of innocent children and would create an underclass of "stateless" children.