The Vincentian Family – made up of more than 170 lay organizations, religious congregations and ministries, over 4 million faithful worldwide inspired by St. Vincent de Paul’s vision – expresses its deep concern about the immigration practices adopted by many countries in our world today and exhorts governments to adopt compassionate and humane immigration policies.

In many cases, current praxis undermines human dignity and contradicts our Catholic tradition as well as our Vincentian Charism rooted in love and justice for the most vulnerable. The Vincentian Family recognizes the right of nations to control their borders but also stresses that such actions must be conducted with justice, mercy, and respect for human life.

Grounded in biblical teachings that call for hospitality toward strangers, Christians must advocate for and support migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. The Vincentian Family commits itself to providing pastoral care, social and legal assistance, and educational opportunities to migrants while promoting their integration into local communities. We are also committed to addressing the root causes of forced migration by collaborating with international partners and engaging in advocacy at the United Nations.

The Vincentian Family calls on global leaders to prioritize humane immigration policies, ensure legal protections, end mass deportations, and reject xenophobia. We also encourage faith communities to offer shelter and practical assistance to migrants and refugees. In keeping with our Vincentian mission, we commit ourselves to offer unwavering compassion and solidarity toward those seeking refuge and a new life.

“Building a World Where Compassion Knows No Borders”

An Exhortation of the Vincentian Family on Immigration Policies

Introduction

The Vincentian Family—made up of more than 170 lay organizations, religious congregations and ministries, over 4 million faithful worldwide inspired by St. Vincent de Paul’s vision—stands in unity and solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters who seek refuge, opportunity, and dignity in every corner of the world.

Recent anti-immigration measures enacted in several nations grieve our hearts as Christians and followers of St. Vincent de Paul, who called us to see the face of Christ in the poor and marginalized. Many European nations are also tightening their approaches. Several European countries have implemented or proposed new measures, including stricter asylum regulations, increased deportations, and reinforced border security.

As Europe grapples with demographic challenges like aging populations and labor shortages, governments are tasked with navigating a delicate balance between national security, economic needs, and humanitarian responsibilities. Other nations in the world face a similar challenge in balancing security concerns with the need for skilled workers, highlighting the global nature of these demographic and migration pressures.

Welcoming the stranger is not just a political ideal but a deeply biblical and spiritual value that forms the cornerstone of our faith. Scripture calls us repeatedly to extend hospitality to the foreigner and treat them with dignity and compassion. In the Old Testament, God commands His people, “You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19). Jesus Himself reminds us in the Gospel of Matthew: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35). As Christians, our fidelity to these teachings requires that we reject policies and attitudes that dehumanize or exclude migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Widening Concerns: A Global Call for Justice

Immigration challenges are present across the globe. Policies in various nations deny refugees entry, criminalize undocumented individuals, and dismantle legal pathways to citizenship. While recognizing the right of nations to control their borders, these actions directly contradict Catholic social teachings and the Vincentian charism of love and service to the most vulnerable.

The recent measures in some nations, such as ending birthright citizenship, restricting asylum access, and increasing enforcement actions in spaces like churches and schools, have already caused irreparable harm. In other countries, harsh border barriers, deportation practices, and prolonged detentions echo these violations of human dignity. States have the right to regulate immigration, but this must be done with justice, mercy, and respect for human life.

A Vincentian Response: Compassion Without Borders

The Vincentian charism has always been rooted in action on behalf of those in need. St. Vincent de Paul dedicated his life to serving the poor, emphasizing practical love that attends to both physical and spiritual needs. Today, the Vincentian Family continues this mission by accompanying migrants and advocating for just systems that honor their dignity. We believe that every human being is created in the image of God and that borders must never become barriers to compassion and solidarity.

The call to embrace an open-door spirituality aligns deeply with the heart of the Gospel. This perspective urges us to reach out with compassion, to be unafraid of engaging with the suffering and wounded, and to welcome those in need with open hearts and borders. It challenges us to reject fear and indifference, emphasizing that true security is found in fostering trust, solidarity, and mutual care over exclusion or isolation: “Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age (Matthew 25:35-43).  The Lord entrusts to the Church’s motherly love every person forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future.” (Pope Francis, Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 104^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, August 15, 2017).

Commitment to Uphold the Dignity and Rights of Migrants and Refugees

As members of the Vincentian Family, inspired by the charism of St. Vincent de Paul and the call to serve those living in poverty and marginalization, we commit to:

• Providing Pastoral and Social Support: Offer spiritual, emotional, and material assistance to migrants and their families, ensuring they experience dignity and belonging within our communities and ministries.
• Advocacy for Fair and Humane Policies: Actively work for the implementation of just immigration policies that protect the dignity and rights of all, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as children and families.
• Promoting Social Integration: Develop programs and initiatives to help migrants and refugees build meaningful relationships and become active participants in their local communities.
• Legal Assistance and Support: Collaborate with legal professionals and community organizations to offer migrants guidance and assistance in navigating complex immigration processes.
• Continued Education and Ministry for Immigrants: Expand Catholic institutional services to provide ongoing educational and pastoral support tailored to the needs of immigrant communities.
• Educational and Formation Initiatives: Raise awareness within the Vincentian Family and the broader society about the realities faced by migrants, promoting solidarity and combating harmful stereotypes.
• Addressing Root Causes of Forced Migration: Collaborate with national and international partners to develop cooperative policies aimed at reducing the underlying causes of forced migration. As part of this commitment, we will continue promoting advocacy for migrant rights through the engagement of Vincentian Family NGO representatives at the United Nations.
• Protection of Human Rights: Stand in solidarity with migrants whose human rights are being violated, offering protection and advocacy for their freedom, dignity, and security.
• Living the Vincentian Charism: Form our members in the teachings of St. Vincent de Paul, fostering a deeper commitment to uphold the dignity of every person, particularly those most in need, including migrants and refugees.

We urge communities of faith to provide sanctuary, advocacy, and practical assistance to migrants and refugees. As individuals, we are called to listen to their stories, amplify their voices, and take action to ensure they find the safety and opportunities they seek.

Requests to National Leaders

The Vincentian Family calls upon global leaders to adopt policies that respect human dignity and honor international agreements protecting the rights of migrants and refugees. Measures that exacerbate suffering—such as family separations, prolonged detentions, and deportations without due process—are unacceptable. As members of a global community, we have a moral responsibility to support those who are most vulnerable.

As members of the Vincentian Family, united by our commitment to justice and compassion, we respectfully call on national leaders to:

• Establish Humane Immigration Policies: Enact and uphold laws that respect the inherent dignity of migrants, prioritize family reunification, and provide clear and accessible pathways to legal status.
• End Mass Deportations: Ensure just procedures that protect due process and avoid the separation of families and harm to communities.
• Ensure Legal Protections: Safeguard the rights of refugees and asylum seekers by adhering to international human rights agreements and expanding access to legal representation.
• Address Root Causes of Migration: Partner with international organizations to combat poverty, violence, homelessness and climate-related factors that force people to migrate.
• Increase Support Services: Allocate resources to ensure safe and dignified reception conditions for migrants, including access to shelter, healthcare, and education.
• Reject Xenophobia and Discrimination: Promote inclusive narratives that recognize the positive contributions of migrants and build unity rather than division.
• Protect Children and Vulnerable Populations: Ensure that immigration policies prioritize the protection of children and other vulnerable groups, recognizing their unique needs and vulnerabilities.

We urge leaders to embrace these requests as essential steps toward building a more just and compassionate world, rooted in dignity and solidarity.

A Prayer for Migrants and Refugees

Compassionate and merciful God, You are the refuge of the weary, the hope of the displaced, and the defender of the voiceless. We lift up to You all migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers—those who journey through peril and uncertainty in search of safety and belonging.

Open the hearts of those who govern, that they may enact policies rooted in justice, mercy, and respect for human dignity. Strengthen communities of faith to be signs of Your love, welcoming strangers as friends and family.

Comfort those who suffer rejection and contempt, and grant them hope amid adversity. May we, as the Vincentian Family, be instruments of Your peace, standing always with the vulnerable and seeking Your face in the stranger.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who walked among us as a migrant and calls us to love without borders. Amen.