JRS/USA President Kelly Ryan Featured in the Daily Independent on Immigration Policy

JRS/USA President Kelly Ryan authored an op-ed published by the Daily Independent on June 4, 2025, emphasizing the Jesuit commitment to collaborate with Rep. Juan Ciscomani and other lawmakers on bipartisan immigration reform. In the piece, Ryan underscores the importance of policies that uphold the dignity and rights of migrants and refugees, aligning with Catholic social teaching and the Jesuit mission.

In 1687, Jesuits started establishing missions in the Sonoran Desert. The missions, including San Xavier del Bac, founded in 1700 by Father Eusebio Kino, S.J., were highly successful evangelically and economically, creating dynamic communities.

The Jesuit presence in Arizona continued through the founding of the U.S. and remains active today. Jesuits have long assisted immigrants, from those who came to work in mines to present-day immigrants who often come seeking safe haven.

In December 2024, Jesuits went into the Sonoran Desert on a different kind of mission: the search for remains of missing migrants. Migrants face dire circumstances in the quest to reach the U.S. Persecution, violence and poverty have caused millions to journey north though they know they will likely suffer violence, could become victims of trafficking, and might die.

Read full op-ed here