Joyful Witness / Kimberly Pohovey

Our Catholic faith teaches us that immigration is a respect life issue

I just started having my nails done at a local salon about a year ago. Luckily, I found a nail technician there who does a fantastic job, and I also enjoy chatting with her. She is originally from Venezuela, and I love learning about her culture, traditions and family.

When I went to my last appointment, she informed me that she would be leaving in about a month. I started to ask if she was moving to another salon to which I could follow her, when all of a sudden, I realized she meant she was leaving the country.

“Is this due to the immigration situation unfolding in America?” I asked. “Yes,” she answered, “I’m scared of what might happen to me.”

I’ll call her “Maria” for the purposes of this column. Maria came to the United States 11 years ago, fleeing the turbulence and tyranny of the Venezuelan government. She immediately filed for asylum and obtained a green card to legally work in the United States. She found a job and dutifully paid taxes on her earnings, knowing full well that she wouldn’t benefit from Social Security. She explained to me that she knew how important it was for her to pay taxes to be a contributing member of our society.

Maria waited 10 years for her asylum hearing, which finally occurred last summer. She had been waiting a decision ever since. Her attorney led her to believe that hers was an open-and-shut case because she followed all the right and legal steps. In the meantime, the Trump administration took over the executive branch of the government in January. A month ago, she received word that her asylum case was denied.

Now, she’s scared. While she doesn’t want to return to her homeland, she feels it might be safer than remaining here and risk being deported to another country—or worse. She is already unraveling her American life: giving notice at her job, and selling her house, car and other belongings.

I will miss our chats, but I said I couldn’t blame her for deciding to leave.

While I understand immigration is a complicated subject for many, I have to believe there is a better way to treat people.

Our country was founded on immigration. Our melting pot has brought together a variety of cultures, which has enriched the traditions of our nation. For generations, hard-working people sought refuge in the United States and seized the opportunities afforded them to prosper and safeguard their families.

I have listened to some Catholics denounce immigrants from one side of their mouth while claiming to respect life from the other. I believe immigration, like trying to end abortion in society, is a respect life issue.

Do I think our country has an immigration problem? Of course. But I think a more thoughtful and thorough approach would help preserve the dignity of the person. Instead of rounding up large swaths of immigrants for deportation, I wish the current administration would take the time to be sure of who they are deporting. I am distressed to hear accounts of persons being deported who have legal status in this country. I am equally distressed to hear some Catholics speak of immigrants as if they are less than the rest of us.

In my work at the archdiocese, I have had the privilege of interacting with immigrants who are living and working in our community. We serve many of them and their needs through Catholic Charities, ministries, parishes and schools. Personally, I have only met hard-working individuals who simply want a better life for their children and themselves. I wonder how many of us would pursue immigration, legally or illegally, if our families were threatened with violence?

It’s easy in this day and age to demonize whole groups of people through careless social media posts. You know what’s hard? Sitting face to face with an immigrant—hearing their story, understanding their plight, and really “seeing” that person as a child of God.

I remember the first time I listened to an immigrant describe for me the night his family fled the

gang violence and bombing which besieged his town. They left literally with the clothes on their backs and no shoes. In my middle-class suburban American life, I cannot even fathom their fear or their journey.

As Pope Francis has reminded us, Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees escaping King Herod’s wrath. Can you imagine treating them with disdain simply because they were fleeing for their lives?
 

(Kimberly Pohovey is a member of Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Parish in Indianapolis. She is the director of major and planned gifts for the archdiocese.) †