Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)/USA offers its congratulations to newly inaugurated President Trump and his incoming administration.

As Catholics expressing our faith through our work, we at JRS are committed to accompanying, serving, and advocating the cause of refugees and other forcibly displaced people in the United States and elsewhere. The cornerstone of our beliefs and our work is that each person has inherent dignity, and we are called to uphold that dignity. Regardless of legal status, migrants deserve basic respect, not punitive laws and harsh treatment.

We also believe, as both Catholics and Americans, that people have a right to seek protection in another country if they have been persecuted or fear persecution on account of religion, race, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. JRS/USA offers and will continue to advocate for programs and services that enable those who seek safety to heal, learn, and determine their own futures.

As the U.S. bishops have articulated, nations have the right to regulate their borders and control immigration for the sake of the common good. As we have stated in the past, the U.S. must improve its asylum system and can and must provide more lawful pathways for entry into the U.S. These lawful pathways are necessary to meet both our country’s labor market needs and migrants’ need for dignified work. 

Finally, we believe it is critical to global peace and security that the U.S. continue being a leader in providing lifesaving humanitarian aid to refugees, trafficking victims, and other forcibly displaced people around the world. Without American leadership, adversaries who undermine democratic principles like freedom and justice – which are also foundational to Catholic social teaching – will come to dominate places where families and young people have little hope for a better future. 

We hope to continue partnering with agencies of the U.S. government, with whom we have worked productively for years, and we look forward to working with President Trump, his appointees, and the new Congress in the hope of developing just, humane, and practical reforms that protect those at risk and serve the interests of our nation.

Contact:  Bridget Cusick, bridget.cusick@jrsusa.org, 646-260-2462