Today, on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, the New Jersey Catholic Conference shared a Pastoral Letter concerning immigration. The letter was issued by Bishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services of the United States and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso and Chair of the USCCB Committee on Migration, and Bishop Jaime Soto of the Diocese of Sacramento, Chair of the Board for Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

The bishops expressed solidarity with immigrants in the United States: "Driven by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and recognizing each individual's inherent dignity as a child of God, we stand firmly with our immigrant brothers and sisters who live and work in these United States."

They highlighted immigrants' contributions to society since its founding: "From our nation's founding, immigrants have been essential to this society's growth and prosperity. They arrive on our shores as strangers, drawn by this land's promises, and become Americans. They continue to provide food security, health services, and many other essential skills that support our thriving nation."

The letter called for an immigration system offering fair paths to citizenship: "Our country deserves an immigration system that offers fair and generous pathways to citizenship for immigrants who have lived and worked within our borders for many years."

It emphasized keeping families together and welcoming refugees: "We need a system that provides permanent relief for childhood arrivals, helps keep families together, and welcomes refugees."

The bishops advocated for effective asylum systems while maintaining secure borders: "We hope our country can develop an effective asylum system for those fleeing persecution, along with an immigration system that keeps our borders safe and secure with law enforcement policies focusing on those who pose risks to society."

They stressed protecting vulnerable migrants: "The U.S. must have an immigration system that protects vulnerable migrants and their families, many already victims of criminals. Together we must speak on behalf of 'the huddled masses yearning to breathe free' and ask that our government provide fair and humane treatment to our dear immigrant brothers and sisters."

The bishops concluded with a call for meaningful reform: "It is our hope and prayer that we can all work together to support meaningful reform to our current immigration system."