The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of the United States of America are moved to speak out on behalf of those suffering along our borders and in detention centers. We raise our voices in union with the many religious, non-governmental organizations, and citizens calling for the Federal Administration and US Congress to take action to end the inhumane treatment of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers arriving in the United States.
Specifically, we call on Congress and the President to address the immoral separation of children from parents, unsanitary and unsafe detention centers, and the squalid living conditions being forced upon asylum seekers waiting to cross over the border legally.
We urge our fellow citizens and lawmakers to remember that our country has a long history of welcoming and protecting refugees and immigrants. Those of us who follow Christ’s teaching believe that it is a gospel mandate to welcome strangers and care for those in need.