Witness to Hope: Responding to Mass Deportations Conference in the U.S.A. - Gathered Bishops, Legal Experts, Advocates


 Witnesses of Hope: Responding to Mass Deportations (image Brett Meister, Diocese of Phoenix)

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the Diocese of Phoenix Pastoral Center became a hub of solidarity and strategy. In partnership with the Hope Border Institute (HOPE) and the Center for Migration Studies (CMS), the Diocese hosted “Witness to Hope: Responding to Mass Deportations.”

This regional gathering brought together faith leaders and advocates from across Arizona and the Southwest to address the humanitarian crisis facing our immigrant brothers and sisters.

Presenters included Kevin Appleby, senior fellow for policy and communications at the Center for Migration Studies of New York; Katherine Clifton, assistant director of communications for the USCCB Secretariat of Migration; Sofia Lozano Pallares, assistant director for community engagement at Hope Border Institute; and Jesuit Father Hung Nguyen of the Diocese of San Diego.

A Unified Front of Faith

Supported by the Diocese of Tucson and the Kino Border Initiative, the event was co-sponsored by a broad coalition of Catholic organizations, including:

  • Catholic Charities USA & Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)

  • Catholic Health Association & Jesuit Refugee Service-USA

  • United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

A Call to Compassion and Solidarity

The day began with a prayerful welcome from Bishop John P. Dolan, who reminded participants that the Church must remain a visible sign of hope. He emphasized that the mission is one of accompaniment—walking alongside those in distress with genuine solidarity.

Key themes of the gathering included:

  • Catholic Social Teaching: Reaffirming the "inviolable dignity" of every human being.

  • The Four Pillars: A call to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate migrants and refugees.

  • Recognizing Christ: During the midday Eucharist, Auxiliary Bishop Peter Dai Bui challenged the community not to remain indifferent, urging them to "recognize the face of Christ" in those who suffer.

  • Fr. Andres Arango, Vicar for Human Dignity, echoed this sentiment, noting that while people may be "deprived of a document," they are "never deprived of dignity."

  • Data-Driven Compassion

    The gathering operated as part of the Catholic Immigration Prophetic Action Project (Catholic IMMpact). Experts from CMS and HOPE grounded the conversation in sobering data regarding the regional impact of mass deportations:

    • The Scale: There are nearly 2.7 million undocumented persons across Arizona, California, and New Mexico.

    • The Human Cost: Estimates suggest mass deportations in this region could leave nearly 700,000 U.S. citizen children without both of their parents.

Practical Tools for Protection

The gathering was not only spiritual but also deeply practical. Sessions focused on equipping leaders with the information necessary to protect their congregations:

  • "Know Your Rights": Providing essential information on how to navigate detention and deportation proceedings.

  • Sensitive Locations: Discussing the historical and legal status of parishes, schools, and hospitals as protected spaces for the vulnerable.

  • Pastoral Strategies: Sharing methods for active listening and concrete support for families separated or threatened by enforcement.

A Lenten Commitment to Justice

This gathering holds profound weight during the season of Lent, a time dedicated to conversion and solidarity. Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe concluded the event by commissioning those present to go forth as witnesses of hope, reminding everyone that human dignity recognizes no borders.

Upcoming Event: Migrant Way of the Cross

As a continuation of this pastoral commitment, the Kino Border Initiative invites the community to join the Migrant Way of the Cross.

  • Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026

  • Time: 10:00 AM

  • Location: Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry, Nogales, Sonora

  • The Journey: A walk through the streets of Nogales to honor the suffering of our migrant brothers and sisters through the lens of Christ's Passion.

  • Sources: https://www.catholicsun.org/2026/03/13/catholic-church-in-arizona-hosts-regional-gathering-witness-to-hope-responding-to-mass-deportations/

  • https://news.diocesetucson.org/news/testigos-de-esperanza-ante-la-realidad-de-las-deportaciones-masivas

  • Image undated File photo of Bishop Dolan from the Facebook Page of the Diocese of Phoenix

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