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10 Points on the Current Immigration Crisis from Father Paul

Minneapolis, Minnesota January 2026

1. Be respectful to those in authority.

  • Don't curse the President or the Governor.

  • Be courteous to law enforcement agents.

  • Reflect on the command of Jesus: "Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you" (Matt 5:44).

2. Avoid rash judgement.

  • Don't assume every news story is fair or that your preferred source always gets it right.

  • "Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger" (James 1:19).

3. Fight evil with good—not with more evil.

  • "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).

  • Swearing at or mocking ICE agents, politicians, or immigrants is not helpful.

  • What is helpful is prayer for our country, leaders, law enforcement, and all people.

4. Rise above the fray; tame your tongue; be fair and charitable to your opponents.

  • Try to see things from their perspective and affirm whatever is good or true in what they say.

  • Our Catholic Faith is larger than any political party platform.

  • The tongue is a small member that can set a great forest ablaze; it should not be used to both bless God and curse people made in His likeness (James 3:4-10).

5. Don't blame an entire group for the sins of some.

  • God holds people responsible for their own actions (Ezek. 18:20).

  • Individual actions by police officers, ICE agents, immigrants, or specific ethnic groups do not define the entire group.

6. Immigrants are our brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of legal status.

  • "When one member suffers, all suffer" (1 Cor. 12:26).

  • We should help our suffering brothers and sisters regardless of our views on immigration enforcement.

7. Shared points of agreement:

  • The government should obey its own laws, including Constitutional rights to Due Process.

  • Parents should not be separated from their children except for extremely grave reasons.

  • Law enforcement officers should be treated with respect and thanked for their service.

8. Balance news with prayer.

  • For every minute you spend watching or reading the news, spend a minute praying.

9. Read the Catechism (CCC 2234-2257).

  • CCC 2241: Prosperous nations are obliged to welcome foreigners seeking security, but political authorities may make immigration subject to juridical conditions.

  • Immigrants are obliged to respect the heritage of the receiving country and obey its laws.

  • There are a variety of morally acceptable political approaches; inform yourself with Christian principles.

10. Personal Perspective.

  • After 10 years of ministering to Latinos, Fr. Paul notes that some of the most faithful Catholics are immigrants, whether here legally or illegally.

  • He suggests it is wise to advocate for such people.

P.S. Immigrant Assistance Fund: St. Gabriel’s has a $5,000 matching donation fund to assist parishioners with rent, groceries, and legal fees.

  • Mass: Checks to "St. Gabriel Parish" with "Immigrant Assistance" in the memo.

  • Online: stgabrielhopkins.org/give (Select "Needy Fund" and note "Immigrant Assistance").