Bishop Joensen to lead prayer vigil opposing new immigration law

June 4, 2024

Bishop William Joensen will lead a prayer vigil at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 9 on the steps of St. Ambrose Cathedral, 607 High St. in Des Moines, to pray that a new state law affecting immigrants is stopped.

Beginning July 1, state officials can prosecute an individual for state immigration crimes, even if that person’s application for immigration relief is pending before federal authorities. They can also be prosecuted even if they have received federal authorization to be in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Justice sued Iowa last month arguing the law is unconstitutional and should not go into effect. Also the American Immigration Council, American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Iowa sued the state last month behalf of Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice.

“The situation at the southern border has engendered fear and a resolution by many to look for local solutions,” said the Catholic bishops of Iowa through the Iowa Catholic Conference. The bishops oppose the new law because it places a disproportionate emphasis on punitive sanctions, undermines family unity, reduces humanitarian protections, and provides no viable solutions for long-term residents without legal status.

The bishops also oppose the law because it contracts Christian teaching. Quoting Pope Francis, they said the Gospel of Matthew 25 calls us to welcome the stranger, “a constant admonition to see the migrant not simply a brother or sister in difficulty, but Christ himself, who knocks at our door.”

The bishops called on federal lawmakers to create “border protection policies that are consistent with humanitarian values and with the need to treat all individuals with respect, while allowing authorities to carry out the critical task of identifying and preventing entry of terrorists and dangerous criminals.”