Catholic Social Teaching (CST) offers a clear moral foundation for how we respond to forced migration. At Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, we believe that our faith calls us to stand with forcibly displaced people through a commitment to accompaniment, service, and advocacy.

Rooted in the dignity of every person and the Gospel call to welcome the stranger, Catholic teaching affirms that all people have a right to flourish in their home communities—and, when that is not possible, to migrate in search of safety and opportunity, and to return if they choose.

We do not merely serve refugees—we walk alongside them. Our advocacy work elevates their voices, honors their agency, and promotes policy solutions grounded in human dignity and shared responsibility.

Principles that Guide Our Work

1. Dignity of the Human Person
Every human life is sacred. Catholic teaching insists that policies and systems must protect the life and dignity of all, especially those who are displaced, marginalized, or in crisis. Our advocacy uplifts this principle by working to protect access to asylum, restore refugee assistance programs, and preserve legal pathways to safety.

2. The Common Good
The well-being of each person is linked to the well-being of all. Pope Francis reminds us that a just society must ensure the conditions that allow all to thrive. We advocate for humane, fair, and efficient immigration and refugee policies that strengthen families, communities, and civil society.

3. Subsidiarity and Participation
Those closest to a challenge should have a voice in its resolution. Refugees must be heard—not merely helped. JRS supports programs that are refugee-led, community-driven, and designed to ensure displaced people participate in shaping their futures.

4. Solidarity
Solidarity is more than empathy—it is action. It means standing with refugees in their pursuit of justice. Our advocacy is rooted in this call to shared humanity and mutual responsibility, informed by our presence in over 50 countries around the world.

Migration: A Matter of Faith and Justice

Today, millions are displaced by conflict, violence, persecution, and environmental disaster. In response, JRS/USA advocates for policies that uphold the right to stay, migrate, and return—what Pope Francis calls “freedom of movement anchored in human dignity.” This means:

• Creating the conditions that allow people to remain in their home communities.

• Protecting safe and legal pathways for those who are forced to flee.

• Supporting opportunities for return and reintegration where possible.

These are not just policy choices. They are moral decisions rooted in our Catholic tradition and commitment to the common good.

Our Faith in Action

In today’s political climate, many of the values we uphold are under threat—from drastic cuts to refugee assistance, to enforcement strategies that divide families, to legal rollbacks that undermine due process. JRS/USA is responding by:

• Mobilizing a network of Catholic and Jesuit advocates across the U.S.

• Offering evidence-based policy recommendations to lawmakers.

• Partnering with faith-based, business, and civic leaders to protect humanitarian aid.

• Defending the right to asylum and due process for vulnerable populations.

We do this not only because it is just—but because it is required of us by faith.

Take Action with Us

Catholic Social Teaching calls us to more than compassion—it calls us to justice. Join us in transforming faith into action:

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