Border Crisis

While all eyes are on the continuing drama of Syrian migrants at the borders of Europe, a representative from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was in Washington on Oct. 21 reminding Congress that the United States has a similar humanitarian crisis unfolding at its southern border. “Children and families are facing life-threatening violence and refugee situations and are falling prey to human smuggling and trafficking to escape,” said Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Tex. “While the volume of unaccompanied children and families arriving into the United States has decreased from last year,” he said, “the numbers are still high and the protection needs for these children and families are as apparent and important as ever.” The nation’s bishops believe that the migration of unaccompanied children and families is a “humanitarian and international protection situation” that must be viewed regionally, he said in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.