Franciscan TV’s Friar Time recently explored a complex issue with many perspectives and societal impacts: Immigration.
Fr. Julian Jagudilla, OFM, a friar who has spent years working with the Migrant Center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi to help newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers in New York City, joined Friar Time’s host, Fr. David Convertino, OFM, for a conversation that will be timely and thought-provoking for years to come.
So, can a country uphold its immigration laws and its compassion?
Is there room in American politics for mercy?
Please read on to find out!
Fr. David:
Immigration is not just a policy debate; it’s a human one. It’s the face of a mother crossing the desert with a child in her arms. It’s the fear of a father being taken from his home. It’s the voice of a struggling worker, afraid that laborers willing to accept a lesser salary will cost him or her everything. It’s also the cry of a nation trying to protect its borders and its cultural soul.
Today on Friar Time, we’re not taking sides; we’re asking some hard questions. Let’s talk honestly about immigration, the fears, the facts, and the faith that calls us to more.
Fr. Julian, you’ve been working with migrants in the immigration situation for quite some time. Tell us a little about your work.
Fr. Julian:
Actually, I did this immigration work for 12 years for the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. Our latest project was A.S.A.P., which stands for Asylum Seekers Assistance Project, which ran for 20 months from 2022 until 2025.
At the height of our project, we’ve helped more than 3,000 asylum seekers. I had not only staff, but also 120 volunteers. And quite honestly, we had a great time helping our brothers and sisters with the asylum applications.
Fr. David:
Let’s begin with the emotional climate around this issue. When people hear the word immigration, it sparks strong emotions. Why do you think this issue touches such a deep nerve, not just in American society, but also in other societies? And why is it so hard to talk about immigration without either being labeled un-American or un-Christian? And has fear hijacked this conversation?
Fr. Julian:
Absolutely. I would say immigration has been a very polarizing issue. There are those on one side who are afraid and suspicious of newcomers. And on the other hand, there are those who are confident that these migrants will contribute something to the growth of the country.
I would say for those who are afraid or suspicious of the newcomers, to dig deeper into what makes them afraid or suspicious.
Fr. David:
Where do you think the fear comes from?
Fr. Julian:
It comes from a fear that they’re going to take our resources. They’re going to take our jobs. They’re going to invade our neighborhoods. But these are all myths and unfounded accusations.
And we believe that this country was built by immigrants for immigrants. And we’re confident that these newcomers will be in the same boat with us, helping to build this country.
Fr. David:
Let’s look for a minute at the moral and the theological challenges that this issue also faces. From a Franciscan and a gospel perspective, welcoming the stranger is a moral imperative. But how do we balance that with a nation’s right to control its borders and ensure its security?
Fr. Julian:
I agree that we should guard and strengthen security at our borders, but we should also be welcoming of those who knock at our doors. We cannot be naive and say, ignore our laws. But hopefully our laws are humane enough to welcome those who need our help.
Fr. David:
So, what role should the church play in this debate?
Fr. Julian:
We will continue to accompany these migrants and asylum seekers. Just like we did with A.S.A.P., there were a couple of days back in January of 2023, when more than 300 migrants and asylum seekers showed up at the doors of the church—some of them even started lining up the night before.
Fr. David:
Now, where were these migrants from? Were they from the South?
Fr. Julian:
They’re from Latin America and West Africa. And at the time, we offered our services in four languages: Spanish, French, Arabic, Wollof, and Pulaar. These are the dialects that were spoken in West Africa. So, a massive number of immigrants and asylum seekers came to St. Francis of Assisi Church at the migrant center. Why?
There are two things, I would say two selling points for the migrant center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. Number one, we offered our services for free, absolutely free. We also provided them with clothing and food. And with that, I would like to thank our volunteers and our sponsors who helped us fund the project.
And number two, since we are a church, immigrants are always confident that the church will be there, that this is a safe space for them, that they can trust us, we are not going to turn them in, that we are going to help them, accompany them, and provide for their immigration needs. And that was a great project.
Fr. David:
I know that you’ve heard countless personal stories, stories from migrants, some heartbreaking and some hopeful.
Many immigrants come fleeing violence, poverty, or persecution. What do you see in their stories that oftentimes the general public, all of us, really might overlook?
Fr. Julian:
The humanness of their search, their journey. But I think we should also ask ourselves why they’re here, and why do they come to us?
It’s because we are there in their countries. And a hard question to ask is, why is America rich and other countries are poor? So, of course, we are rich, and they would come here to seek a better life for themselves and their families.
But I think when we talk about immigration, we should not separate it from hard facts like poverty and persecution in their countries. And to ask the question, what is our role as a country, America, in their own sufferings in their own countries?
Fr. David:
So, you’re saying that we might be part of the reason why they’re coming here?
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Fr. David’s compelling question comes at the 8:00 minute mark of Friar Time: “Immigration.” To learn Fr. Julian’s answer to this question, tune in to Franciscan TV at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qqQvwjSjl4, advance the video to 8:00, and enjoy another 24 minutes of timely Franciscan insights and observations on a topic that impacts all of us.