Birmingham’s Bishop Steven J. Raica responds to recent developments and discussions about immigration, admitting it was a "complex issue."
“We recognize that immigration is complex," Raica stated. "Admittedly, sovereign nations have the right and responsibility to create laws and to control borders and ports of entry to ensure good civic order and safety for all citizens.”
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham covers an area of 28,091 square miles and includes 39 counties in the northern part of Alabama. Bishop Steven J. Raica was installed on June 23, 2020.
In the statement released Friday afternoon, he began, “Having heard from people of good will from around the diocese, and as the Bishop of Birmingham in Alabama, I am deeply moved in light of recent national events to address the issue of immigration—a topic that touches many here in our diocese. It is at the very heart of who we are as a people and as a nation. Immigration is not just a matter of policy or politics; it is a profoundly moral (i.e., human) issue that calls us to respond with compassion, courage, and conviction.”
The statement comes twelve days into President Donald Trump’s second term. As his Border Czar Tom Homan focuses on the deportation of violent criminals throughout the nation. According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website, the agency has detained numerous individuals with violent criminal records for rape, assault, kidnapping, child sexual assault, firearm, and drug charges. Homan has stressed that while the administration is currently prioritizing those with violent backgrounds, ICE will be detaining those in the country illegally who are found with them as well.
Much of the Bishop’s statement focuses on the positive impacts of immigration while not making the distinction between legal and illegal immigration, saying, “our Lord’s command to ‘love your neighbor as yourself.”
He emphasized, “This is the story of America—a story of welcoming the stranger, embracing diverse cultures, and creating something truly symphonic while strengthening the very meaning of “We, the People.”
Rest of statement as follows:
Still, we recognize that immigration is complex. Admittedly, sovereign nations have the right and responsibility to create laws and to control borders and ports of entry, in order to ensure good civic order and safety for all citizens. It is not an either-or situation but a balance—one where justice meets mercy and laws coexist with compassion. When we see immigrants struggling with an outdated system and onerous processes, we are reminded of our shared responsibility to address these concerns so that movement of people can be orderly, efficient, just, and fair for all.
The challenges of immigration reform are not insurmountable. With open hearts and clear vision, we can work toward solutions that honor both our laws, our homeland security, and our aspirational values while allowing for the movement of peoples who aspire to participate in the fullness of the American dream.
As we reflect on this issue, we are inspired by Christ’s call to welcome the stranger. This is not an abstract command but a tangible invitation to live out our faith in practical ways. To open our hearts to the immigrant is to open our hearts to Christ Himself, Who reminds us that whatever we do for the least among us, we do for Him.
As always, we urge our lawmakers, community leaders, and every person of good will to take this issue seriously, to work diligently toward reasonable solutions and sensible accommodations whenever necessary, and to strengthen our nation as a place of hope for those yearning to “breathe free.” Moving beyond division and fear, may we choose instead to see immigration as an opportunity for renewal and growth, not stagnation; understanding, not suspicion; hope, not despair.
As we journey together, may we remain a nation that honors the dignity of all people and strives to be a home for those seeking a better tomorrow. We lean into the promise of our faith and the strength of our shared humanity. That is my hope!
Apryl Marie Fogel is a Birmingham resident who frequently appears on and guest hosts radio programs around the state. She can be reached at aprylmarie.fogel@1819news.com or on X and Facebook at @aprylmarie.
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