Accusations have been made that Houston is a sanctuary city which harbors and supports immigrants instead of running them off and deporting them. Houston is a sanctuary, they say, a holy place for immigrants seeking employment and a new life, a place of protection. If Houston is a sanctuary city, it has escaped us. This… continue reading

Recent events surrounding immigration “enforcement” have drawn the attention, the concern, the ire, and the resistance of Catholic Bishops in the United States. The anti-immigrant prejudice in the United States has been seized upon by legislators in some states in order to enact awful laws. These laws in states such as Oklahoma and Georgia are… continue reading

Rio Grande Valley cities and citizens are joining with Mexican citizens to protest the wall being built through their territory. As we write, an event called Hands Across El Rio is taking place all along the border (August 27 to) September 9). Texas activists, environmen-talists, the religious community, the University of Texas at Brownsville, Latina… continue reading

1             July        2007 We pray to the Lord: For the most persecuted, The most hated, The most despised, The most rejected,  of us all The  “Immigrants.” That we show them our love To help them overcome their poverty With their willing work And in the process that we learn from their Boundless faith, hope, charity,… continue reading

Cardinal Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, addressed the Third National Congress of the Episcopal Commission for Culture in Mexico, particularly related, he said, “to the Fifth General Conference of CELAM in May of 2007 in Aparecida, Brazil, toward which all the Church in Latin America is preparing.” Excerpts from his talk, translated by… continue reading

At the beginning of April, on the steps of one of the first Franciscan missions (founded by foreigners), a foreign-born Roman Catholic Bishop complained of the treatment of his fellow immigrants. He was responding to the arrest and deportation of many immigrants, especially mothers and fathers of children. San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius Wong, born… continue reading

Since the date on which the politicians in this country undertook the theme of the “undocumented” as a tool that would allow them to dig up more votes in the coming elections, many situations for and against our more than 10 million undocumented brothers and sisters have taken place. We know the positive elements, since… continue reading

Professor Joe Vail directs the Immigration Law Clinic at the University of Houston. He was formerly an immigration judge. There is a building located just north of Beltway 8 approximately 2 miles to the east of the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport. The building is owned by a private corporation called the Corrections Corporation of America… continue reading

How the United States resolves the immigration issues will have tremendous impact on a number of industries throughout the nation. Employment of undocumented workers is no longer limited to the Southwestern states and those who traditionally travel for a few months each year to work the crops in a few other areas. Immigrant workers are… continue reading