Catholic Bishops on Legal Immigration Pathways

The U.S. Catholic Bishops have been thinking about, praying over, and writing on immigration since the 1920s! Here we explore the fifth element of their publication titled Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform, published in January 2025.

Element 5: Legal pathways should be expanded, reliable, and efficient

Established limits on legal immigration pathways are not adequate for current social, economic, and geopolitical realities. People need more opportunities to lawfully enter the US to address labor shortages.

The current enforcement-only approach to immigration:

• causes more irregular migration even though more intense enforcement efforts are taking place.
• disregards the contributions of immigrants.
• ignores “many legitimate motivations people have for migrating” including family reunification, educational opportunities, employment, and humanitarian needs.

Did you know that U.S. immigration courts have a growing backlog of over 3.5 million cases? Did you know that wait times are decades-long?

“ . . . For I was a stranger and you invited me in.” —Matthew 25:35 (NIV - New International Version)

Over the next weeks, please return to learn the remaining elements and ponder related questions.

Read the full text of Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform here. Read their most recent message on immigration here, or watch their video of their message here.