Donald Kerwin on Migration, Human Dignity, and Refugee Protection
19 May 2026|Don Kerwin, JRS/USA | Santa Clara University Ignatian Center
A Catholic Perspective on International Migration
Donald Kerwin, Vice President of Advocacy, Research, and Partnerships at Jesuit Refugee Service, presents Human Dignity, Freedom, and Belonging: A Catholic Perspective on International Migration as part of this year’s Global Migrations Distinguished Lecture through the Bannan Forum at Santa Clara University.
In this lecture, Kerwin examines global and U.S. humanitarian, refugee, and enforcement policies through the lens of Catholic teaching on the freedom to stay, migrate, and return. Rooted in human dignity, this framework recognizes the agency of people making consequential decisions about their lives and the responsibility of states to create conditions that allow people to remain safely, return home when possible, or migrate legally and securely when necessary.
Watch the Lecture
Key Takeaways
- Migration policy should center the dignity, agency, and rights of each person.
- Catholic teaching recognizes the freedom to stay, migrate, and return.
- States have a responsibility to create conditions that allow people to remain safely or return home when possible.
- When people are forced to migrate, they should have access to legal, safe, and secure pathways.
- JRS/USA advocates for humanitarian assistance, refugee protection, and policies that uphold human dignity.
A Catholic Framework for Migration
The lecture explores the “freedom” to stay, migrate, and return as an ethical framework grounded in human dignity. This approach emphasizes that people should have the ability to make decisions affecting their lives, even when their choices are constrained by conflict, persecution, poverty, climate-related displacement, or insecurity.
When governments fail to create conditions that allow people to remain safely or return home, this framework recognizes the right of people to migrate to better situations. It also affirms that receiving states, so far as the common good allows, have a responsibility to welcome and protect people who have been forced to leave their homes.
See more on Catholic Social Thought on Migration.
JRS Advocacy Priorities
Within this context, Kerwin details the work of Jesuit Refugee Service and JRS/USA’s advocacy priorities related to humanitarian assistance, refugee protection, and humane migration policies. These priorities reflect JRS’s mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for refugees and other forcibly displaced people around the world.
About the Bannan Forum and Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education
The Bannan Forum is part of the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education at Santa Clara University. The center promotes and enhances the Jesuit, Catholic tradition of education through five signature programs: Arrupe Weekly Engagement, Thriving Neighbors Initiative, Immersions, Bannan Institute, and Ignatian Tradition Offerings.
Through these programs, the Ignatian Center serves students, faculty, staff, and the broader local and global community by fostering reflection, dialogue, service, and engagement rooted in Jesuit values. To learn more, visit scu.edu/ic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the freedom to stay, migrate, and return?
The freedom to stay, migrate, and return is a Catholic migration framework rooted in human dignity. It recognizes that people should be able to remain safely in their communities, migrate when necessary, and return home when conditions allow.
How does Catholic teaching relate to migration?
Catholic teaching emphasizes human dignity, solidarity, the common good, and the responsibility to protect people who are vulnerable, including refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and forcibly displaced communities.
What does JRS/USA advocate for?
JRS/USA advocates for humanitarian assistance, refugee protection, humane migration policies, and support for forcibly displaced people and host communities around the world.
What is the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education?
The Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education at Santa Clara University promotes Jesuit and Catholic education through programs focused on justice, faith, service, reflection, and engagement with local and global communities.
Related Resources
Explore additional JRS/USA resources on refugee protection, migration policy, humanitarian assistance, and Catholic perspectives on accompaniment and advocacy.
Refugee Protection and Humanitarian Assistance
Learn how JRS accompanies, serves, and advocates for refugees and other forcibly displaced people through humanitarian response, education, livelihoods, and long-term protection.
Advocacy and Migration Policy
Explore how JRS/USA advances refugee protection, humanitarian assistance, and policies that uphold dignity, accountability, and access to safety.
Support Refugees and Displaced Communities
See how JRS/USA responds to displacement through accompaniment, emergency response, education, and long-term support for vulnerable communities.
Understanding Forced Displacement
Learn more about the causes of forced displacement, refugee protection challenges, and why long-term humanitarian solutions matter.
Catholic Perspectives on Migration and Human Dignity
Explore resources that reflect Catholic social teaching, human dignity, solidarity, and accompaniment in response to migration and displacement.
JRS Global Response
See how Jesuit Refugee Service works across regions to accompany refugees, provide emergency assistance, and advocate for durable solutions.
Explore more
