Dominican Sisters of Peace Denounce

Executive Actions Regarding Immigrants and Refugees

January 30, 2017, Columbus, Ohio – In response to recent executive actions by President Donald Trump regarding immigrants and refugees, the Dominican Sisters of Peace have issued the following statement:

The Dominican Sisters of Peace, in solidarity with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), denounce the recent actions taken by President Donald Trump that deny the inherent human dignity of our immigrant and refugee sisters and brothers of various faith traditions. These actions include the President’s executive order to begin construction of a border wall, the denial of funding to sanctuary cities around the country, the increased detention and deportation of immigrants, and most recently, the ban on refugees from predominately Muslim countries.

We acknowledge and respect our government’s obligation to protect everyone in this country from acts of terrorism; however the President’s executive order to ban refugees is confusing and has created legal uncertainty for thousands of innocent people.

These actions further harm those most vulnerable and marginalized in our communities and our world and continue to deny basic human and civil rights to our neighbors. Fostering fear which leads to greater division, these actions are inconsistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ where Jesus says, “I was a stranger and you made me welcome (Matthew 25:35b),” with our country’s founding principles, and our country’s welcoming message to “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

In his address to the United States Congress, Pope Francis explained that “…we, the people of this continent, [should not be] fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners.” In his recent letter to President Trump, Pope Francis expressed his hope that “Under your leadership…America’s stature continue to be measured above all by its concern for the poor, the outcast, those in need who, like Lazarus, stand before our door.”

We oppose the anti-immigrant actions taken by the current Administration and encourage President Trump and Congress to work to build peace and inclusivity throughout our country by welcoming the stranger in solidarity and love through prudent long established processes.