Key facts
- Over 100 Catholic bishops, nuns, priests, and parishioners participated in a border procession and Mass.
- The event called for humane treatment and dignity for migrants.
- Catholic leaders criticized past immigration policies and conditions in detention facilities.
- The Supreme Court recently allowed the administration to turn away asylum seekers.
- Concerns were raised about limited access for religious chaplains to detainees.
More than 100 Catholic leaders and parishioners gathered for a procession and Mass across the U.S.-Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona, on Friday, advocating for the humane treatment of migrants. The event, timed to coincide with commemorations of America's 250th anniversary, saw clergy from both sides of the border unite in prayer and calls for dignity for those seeking refuge.
Bishop James Misko of Tucson, Arizona, celebrated Mass, emphasizing the Church's mission of unity. Sister Eileen McKenzie highlighted the harsh conditions migrants face, noting the extreme heat and their desperation. Catholic leaders, including Pope Leo, have previously condemned Trump-era immigration policies, citing mass deportations and poor conditions in detention facilities as causes of fear and suffering.
Recent Supreme Court rulings allowing the administration to turn away asylum seekers and strip deportation protections from certain immigrant groups were also noted. Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso expressed concern over limited access for religious chaplains to detainees at facilities like Camp East Montana, where he stated people are dying despite not being elderly or generally sick. He highlighted that most detainees are Catholic and in greater need of spiritual support.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicated that ICE is working to improve detention facilities, referencing contract changes at Camp East Montana after three deaths occurred there. The procession concluded with prayers and a welcome from the Nogales bishop in Mexico. Dylan Corbett of the HOPE Border Institute described the Mass as part of a global Catholic effort to provide humanitarian support and advocate for more compassionate migrant policies.