What's Happening

July 30, 2019, Washington, D.C. – “The threats of deportation and family separation are causing anxiety and fear within the vulnerable communities our agencies serve, endangering immigrant rights and safety.” Those are the words of Sister Donna Markham, OP, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. She is one of many faith leaders to speak out against raids in immigrant communities announced by the U.S. agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

The raids by ICE, as well as the inhumane conditions of detention centers holding immigrant children, have brought public attention and concern to the border between the United States and Mexico. Read more in Crux about the stance of Sister Donna and other faith leaders about the immigration crisis and the need to treat immigrants with dignity and justice.

July 17, 2018, Nogales, Arizona – Sister Donna Markham, OP, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), recently visited the Mexico-United States border at Nogales, Arizona, to listen to the stories of families who had left their homeland to escape the dangers and poverty that they faced at home. 

Many who are seeking asylum are facing detention or deportation in the United States. The refugee families are assisted by programs such as the Kino Border Initiative, directed by Father Sean Carroll, SJ, and by Casa Alitas, a family shelter in the Diocese of Tucson. 

Sister Donna told Catholic News Service that the experience was “emotionally overwhelming.”

Read the full article from the Catholic News Service and watch a video clip of Sister Donna’s experience from Tucson’s KGUN channel 9 news.