Statements

January 21, 2021 WASHINGTON—On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued a Proclamation reversing the Trump Administration’s policy prohibiting immigrants and refugees from several Muslim-majority and African countries. In response, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s (USCCB) Committee for Religious Liberty, and Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary [...]

December 8, 2020 WASHINGTON– On December 4, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reinstate the entire Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program by December 7, and to resume accepting first-time DACA applicants. Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and [...]

November 30, 2020 WASHINGTON—Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, commented today on Trump v. New York, a case argued before the Supreme Court of the United States. The case focuses on President Trump’s July 21, 2020 memorandum instructing the [...]

WASHINGTON– Wednesday night, the State Department issued its report to Congress recommending 15,000 refugees be allowed to be admitted to the United States for 2021. This report is the first step towards issuance of the Presidential Determination on refugees, which by law mandates Congressional consultation and is required to be issued by September 30. The [...]

September 29, 2020 WASHINGTON- In 2004, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) made immigration reform a major public policy priority of the Catholic Church in the United States. In 2005, after engaging broad stakeholders, the USCCB created the Justice for Immigrants (JFI) campaign in an effort to unite and mobilize a growing network of [...]

September 23, 2020   WASHINGTON– Today, Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington, and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, submitted testimony to the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship during a hearing titled “Immigrants as Essential Workers During COVID-19.” From the written testimony, Bishop Dorsonville states: “Immigrants [...]

September 21, 2020 WASHINGTON - The Vatican has designated Sunday, September 27 as the World Day for Migrants and Refugees. The theme chosen by Pope Francis for the 106th observance of this day is “Forced like Jesus Christ to Flee” a focus on the plight of internally displaced persons. Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop [...]

September 15, 2020 Washington, DC – Yesterday, in Ramos v. Wolf, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated an existing preliminary injunction or pause of the Trump Administration’s attempt to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 200,000 individuals living legally in the United States. Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the [...]

July 30, 2020 WASHINGTON - On July 28, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf issued a memorandum adding limitations to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The memorandum was issued in response to the recent 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court of the United States striking down the Trump Administration’s [...]

July 29, 2020 WASHINGTON – The United Nations designated July 30 as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in 2013 to raise awareness of the devastating impact human trafficking has on women, men, and children and to promote survivors’ rights and human dignity. The international day is observed annually in the United States and [...]