CCUSA president meets with migrant families at the Nogales border

Migrants and Refugees

July 13, 2018

Alexandria, Va. – Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), met with migrants recently reunited with their children during her two-day visit to the southern Arizona border. The situation at the border remains challenging and Sr. Donna reaffirmed: “While we strongly oppose the policies that led to these families being separated, we remain committed to working to ensure their safe reunification.”

Sr. Donna’s trip also included a visit to the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), followed by a walk across the border to Mexico. There she shared a message of compassion and hope with parents and children who have been in line for days awaiting the opportunity to present their asylum cases to United States border officials. The increased scrutiny of asylum claims along with limited U.S. border patrol resources are leaving vulnerable families in limbo. “I think it’s extremely painful to know how these people have suffered to get this far,” Sr. Donna said, “especially the children, knowing that they came at great risk and were running for their safety—in some cases for their lives.” To see video from Sr. Donna’s visit, click here.

As it has done for over 100 years, Catholic Charities USA supports our agencies across the network and assists local agency efforts to reunite families and provide compassionate and professional care to meet the immediate, intermediate and long-term needs. While respecting the laws to maintain our national security, we will continue to advocate for a humane response to those seeking safety within our borders.

To learn more about how you can help, visit: Catholic Charities USA.