Border Sanctuary

Catholic order provides for immigrants spiritually and physically at US-Mexico border.

At the Casa del Migrantes in Tijuana, Mexico, migrants can find a bed and three meals a day in their journey toward or away from the United States. Father Luis Kendzierski, shelter director and member of a Catholic order of priests called the Scalabrini Missionaries, says the shelter welcomes all migrant men. Casa del Migrantes is for Mexicans and Latin Americans leaving the U.S. or trying to make their way – legally or illegally – into the U.S. In 2002, Casa del Migrantes housed 4,700 men, about half of whom were deported from the U.S.

The Scalabrini Order is the only order devoted exclusively to immigrants and migrants in the Catholic Church. It has a presence worldwide, with about 600 priests in over 20 countries. Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini of Milan founded the order in 1886 in Italy when there was mass emigration to other countries, including the U.S. and Latin America. Scalabrinian priests went to the countries where the Italians were migrating to provide spiritual and practical support. In the 1960s, the order changed its focus to include all migrants and immigrants, not just Italians.

Father Kendzierski says the priests don't ask whether people are trying to enter the U.S. illegally, adding it is a pleasure to help those in need and people arriving with only the clothes on their backs need help surviving. It is one of five such shelters in Mexico and Guatemala. Casa del Migrantes is one of five such shelters in Mexico and Guatemala. Shelter staff help the men find temporary work, feed them, provide medical attention, legal assistance if necessary, spiritual guidance and clothes. It also hosts visitors from the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles to learn about the impact of immigration policies and the reality of migrant life.

Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a national nonprofit group that wants immigration reform, says groups like the Scalabrinians are providing a "laudable" service -- as long as they are not actively helping people across the border. But he says they should focus their efforts on reforming the Mexican government and economy instead. Mehlman says while immigrants have a contribution to make to society, their collective impact on services like education and healthcare has to be considered.

But Father Richard Zanotti, a Scalabrinian priest in Sun Valley, says Latino immigrants contribute heavily to the American way of life. They provide necessary labor to the local economy and are an integral part of the Catholic Church in Los Angeles. Father Richard says his justification for assisting illegal immigrants is that he has a "higher calling" to God to help others, especially the poor and needy.

CONTACTS

Father Luis Kendzierski
Casa del Migrantes
Calle Gallileo 239
Colonia Postal, Mexico
Phone: 011-52-66-46-825-180

Ira Mehlman: FAIR spokesman
The Federation for American Immigration Reform
Marina del Rey, CA
Phone: (310) 821-4283

Father Richard Zanotti: Scalabrinian priest
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church
7800 Vineland Avenue
Sun Valley, CA 91352-4596
Phone: (818) 765-3350

LINKS

KMEX-TV in Los Angeles broadcast this story.

The Scalabrini Order describes its history and projects on this Web page.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles' Mission Office organizes trips to Casa de Migrantes.

Catholic Church's Office of Migration and Refugee Studies

The Catholic Church provides information about US-Mexico border.

Scalabrini churches are in the US, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala.

FAIR has data on national immigration.

FAIR has data on California immigration.

ACFnewsource provides links to sites maintained by other organizations for informational purposes only. ACFnewsource has no responsibility for the accuracy of the content of any Web site to which a link is provided. The groups included on the list do not necessarily reflect the views of ACFnewsource.

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