A Christian Perspective Rooted in Scripture and Catholic Teaching

Immigration is a human experience as old as civilization itself. From nomadic tribes seeking sustenance to families fleeing violence, the act of migration is woven into the human story. For Christians, it resonates even deeper — revealing a divine mystery in which God himself “immigrated” into human history by taking on flesh and dwelling among us.

At its core, immigration is both a practical and spiritual reality. Migrants bring their values, hopes and traditions into a new land, engaging in a mutual exchange that benefits both the host community and the newcomers. This encounter, when guided by love and justice, becomes a sacred opportunity.

Migration Throughout Salvation History

Scripture places migration at the heart of God’s redemptive plan. The Exodus marks a pivotal moment: God freeing his people from slavery and leading them to the Promised Land. As a result, God commanded the Israelites to treat migrants with compassion: “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 22:20)

The journey motif continues with God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (cf. Exodus 6:8) But entering the Promised Land came with suffering — such as the exile in Babylon, showing how migration often entails pain and perseverance.

In the New Testament, migration remains central. Each Christmas, we recall Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt with the infant Jesus (cf. Matthew 2:14), and Jesus’ ministry itself involved extensive travel — from Galilee to Jerusalem. His final destination — the cross — revealed the true promised land: communion with God.

Jesus taught unmistakably about welcoming the stranger: “For I was hungry, and you gave me food … I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)

He challenged exclusivity: “If you love those who love you … Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:46–47)

And he embraced foreigners, such as the Syrophoenician woman whose faith moved him to heal her daughter. (cf. Mark 7:26-30) The message was clear: Faith and dignity are universal.

St. Paul: Migration as a Mission

St. Paul’s mission crossed borders, languages and cultures. Though proud of his Roman citizenship, he declared a greater allegiance: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints.” (Ephesians 2:19)

St. Paul taught that Jesus had broken down divisions between Jews and Gentiles. (cf. Ephesians 2:14) The Gospel invites people from every direction to God’s table: “And people will come from east and west, and from north and south …” (Luke 13:29)

Christianity, then, announces not just spiritual rebirth — but a universal migration toward divine communion.

Catholic Social Teaching

The U.S. Catholic bishops, drawing from Scripture and Tradition, outline three key principles on immigration:

The Right to Migrate

People have the right to migrate to sustain themselves and their families — a right tied to the inherent dignity of life. Absolute rights (like life) flow from God and cannot be taken away; relative rights (like property) can be limited in crises. Just as governments may claim private homes in wartime, individuals fleeing war or poverty must be permitted refuge.

St. John Paul II affirmed this through the Universal Destination of Goods: “God gave the earth to the whole human race for the sustenance of all its members.” (Centesimus Annus, 31)

Migration, then, isn’t merely allowed — it can become a moral duty.

The Right to Regulate Borders

Nations also have the right to secure borders. This stems from the Principle of the Common Good, which calls for societal conditions that help all people flourish. (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 26.1)

Regulation is not rejection — it is stewardship. Countries must balance humanitarian concern with civic order, caring for both native residents and migrants alike.

Justice and Mercy Must Guide Policy

These two prior principles must be interpreted through a third: justice tempered by mercy. As Fr. Thomas Betz explains, this ensures the dignity of migrants while respecting a country’s responsibilities. Christians are called to see Christ in every migrant — especially those who suffer.

Pope St. John Paul II: A Christ-Centered View of Migrants

In his 1996 World Migration Day address, Pope St. John Paul II urged a compassionate lens for illegal immigration: “The Church considers the problem of illegal migrants from the standpoint of Christ … to rehabilitate the marginalized and to integrate all.”

He emphasized three key responses:

  • Listening to migrants and understanding their stories
  • Providing survival essentials regardless of legal status
  • Advocating legal regularization for long-settled migrants, especially children

The pope also warned against racism and scapegoating: “It is necessary to guard against the rise of new forms of racism.”

Host societies must understand why people migrate — often due to violence, poverty and upheaval. Informed compassion leads to better public policy and stronger communities.

The Gospel of Migration

The biblical narrative is one of journey, exile and homecoming. Migration reflects our spiritual journey toward God. By welcoming migrants with justice and love, we affirm not just their humanity — but our own.

In the eyes of faith, every migrant is a fellow pilgrim, moving toward the promised land. Guided by Sacred Scripture and Catholic teaching, we are called to build bridges of compassion, and to make room at the table for all who seek shelter — because the Gospel itself began with a migrant family seeking safety in the night.

Parishes Offering Immigration Talk, Discussion

Several parishes in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee are hosting a presentation and discussion on immigration by a member of St. Mary, Hales Corners.

Darryl Morin, president of Forward Latino, has worked with Republican and Democrat administrations to reform U.S. immigration laws. His presentation, “Immigration: Fiction, Facts and Faith,” details the six essential elements of immigration reform approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The event is scheduled at the following parishes:

  • Corpus Christi, Waukesha (formerly the Catholic Community of Waukesha), St. Mary site: 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25
  • Francis of Assisi, Milwaukee: 10-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 27
  • Elizabeth Ann Seton, New Berlin: 6:30-8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4
  • Clare, Wind Lake, 2-3:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26

Seven other parishes are working with their leadership to schedule Morin, who has already done the presentation at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and two other parishes in recent months, he said.