How does the Catholic Church collaborate with the US government to help migrants?

The service of the Catholic Church to migrants and refugees in the United States has been scrutiny after vice president JD Vance criticized the United States Catholic Bishop Conference (USCB) in a televised interview in a televised interview While the administration continues to take energetic measures against illegal immigration.

“I think that (USCCB) needs to look a little in the mirror and recognize that when they receive more than 100 million dollars (of the federal government) to help reassure illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian issues or are they really worried about their final results? ”Asked Vance rhetorically In an interview on January 26 In the program “Face The Nation” of CBS.

Without direct reference to Vance, the USCCB He issued a statement That same day defending their association with the federal government for refugee resettlement, noting that the people they serve through the refugee resettlement program are “examined and approved… by the federal government while they are outside the United States” .

“Under our agreements with the Government, the USCCB receives funds to carry out this work; However, these funds are not enough to cover the total cost of these programs, ”reads the statement. “However, this remains a work of mercy and a ministry of the Church.”

In the light of this debate, we present below an explanation to shed light on the efforts of the USCCB to serve migrants and their association with the federal government.

How much money from taxpayers does the USCCB receive?

In recent years, the USCCB has received more than 100 million US dollars per year of the federal government to support migration and refugees services.

A large part of the financing comes from subsidies through the United States Refugee Admission Program (USRAP) to help reassure refugees that have been examined by the federal government. This is the program to which the bishops referred to in their statement.

The USCB also receives federal funds through other programs, such as the refugee and migrants assistance program, whose objective is to support migrants and help them achieve self -sufficiency. The Episcopal Conference also receives federal money from the unaccompanied foreign children’s program, whose objective is to support migrant children entering the United States without a father or guardian or who are separated from their parents or guardians.

The amount of money that the USCCB receives fluctuates from one year to another and from one administration to another, but the conference has collaborated with the federal government on this issue for four and a half decades.

According to the Audited Financial Statements of the USCCBFederal financing covered more than 95% of what the conference spent on refugee and migrants programs in recent years. The USCCB has spent a little more on these services than federal financing covers, according to financial statements.

In 2023the most recent year reported, the USCCB spent more than $ 134.2 million in these services, and federal subsidies covered more than 129.6 million dollars of that expense. In 2022the USCCB spent almost $ 127.4 million after receiving almost $ 123 million from the government.

Federal financing in those two years was much greater than during the first year of President Joe Biden’s mandate and during most of President Donald Trump’s first mandate.

The USCCB received just over 67.5 million dollars in federal funds In 2021around 47.8 million In 2020a little more than 52.7 million In 2019 And a little less than 48.5 million In 2018. Every year, the conference spent about 5 million more than the subsidies covered. During Trump’s first year In 2017the financing of the subsidies was greater (just over 72.3 million) and the expenditure of the USCCB in these services was more than 82.2 million.

During the mandate of President Barack Obama, the financing of federal grants for the USCCB programs that support refugees and migrants fluctuated between less than 70 million of dollars and More than 95 million dollars.

Where does the money go?

The USCCB directs most of its federal subsidies funds to affiliated organizations that provide migration and refugee services, such as Catholic Charisies.

According to the USCCB Migration Committeethe Catholic Resessment Network of Refugees includes more than 65 affiliated offices throughout the United States. Bishops report that USCCB and its migration and refugee services help to reassure around 18% of refugees entering the country every year.

Numerous subsidiaries are near the border with Mexico, where many people seeking the legal status of refugees cross to the United States. However, The Committee’s website states that “there is no evidence or investigation that supports the statement that … the services provided by Catholic organizations encourage illegal migration.”

Some of the services offered through financing include food, clothing, accommodation, employment and assistance for assimilation to their new community, including English classes as a second language. Some organizations also offer legal services to immigrants to provide free assistance with legal issues related to immigration status and trips to refugees accepted in USRAP.

In addition to the relocation of refugees, the USCCB also uses federal grants to help minor refugees not accompanied through work with their affiliates. This includes reception services for migrant children and family reunification programs that work to bring together children who separate from their families during migration.

The USCB also operates several programs with the help of its affiliates that aim to combat trafficking in migrants, which includes initiatives focused on the prevention of forced labor and sexual exploitation.

Although an important part of this work is financed with federal subsidies, The Committee’s website stands out That the USCB “does not benefit from its participation” in these programs, and points out that the conference spends more money on these initiatives than the government. Both the USCCB and Catholic Charisies are non -profit organizations.

Federal Political Disputes and Financing

Improving border security and deporting immigrants who entered the country illegally are two of the main issues in which the newly invested president Donald Trump focused his campaign and presidency.

The officials of the new administration have not only focused on changing the federal immigration policy, but also criticized non -governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide services to migrants, including non -profit Catholic organizations Affiliated with USCCB.

One of the Executive orders of the first day Trump was to suspend the admission of refugees through the USrap. The following week, the White House ordered the heads of federal departments and agencies to suspend federal financing to NGOs that could be involved in executive orders.

Although it is not yet clear to what extent this will affect the financing of Catholic NGOs, the president and executive director of Catholic Charities USA, Kerry Alys Robinson, He issued a statement which urged the president to reconsider the freezing of financing.

“The millions of Americans who depend on this life support will suffer due to the unprecedented measure of freezing the federal help that supports these programs,” said Robinson. “People who will lose access to crucial medical care are our neighbors. They live in all corners of the country and represent all races, religions and political affiliations. ”

Patrick Raglow, Executive Director of Catholic Charisies of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, told “Ewtn News in Dept” on Friday that “our approach is to be present for those who cross our way, so we support the people who find his way to Catholic Charities. ”

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.