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j u s t i c e , p e a c e a n d i n t e g r i t y o f c r e a t i o n
Caring for by Sr. Mary Beth Hamm, SSJ

Coordinator: Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours
Our Communities

Pictured (l to r): Congregation Leader Sr. Rose Marie Jasinski,
Area Leader, USA, Sr. Elaine Davia, and Srs. Ji Kyung Choi,
Pat Eck and Fran Gorsuch advocate against the misuse of Title 42.
T Since the misuse of Title 42 first began in

he call was sounded. NETWORK
Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
March 2020, U.S. Customs and Border
invited Catholic sisters from around the
Protection officers have rapidly turned away
country to gather in prayer and public
result, the vast majority of asylum seekers are
witness outside the White House on Dec. 3, 2021, nearly all arrivals at the southern border. As a
to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters at denied the opportunity to state a credible fear of
the U.S.-Mexico border who are seeking asylum. returning to their home countries and begin the
As Pope Francis reminds us in his encyclical Fratelli process of applying for asylum. Human rights
Tutti #69, “Each day we have to decide whether researchers and journalists have identified over
to be Good Samaritans or indifferent bystanders.” 6,300 kidnappings, tortures, rapes and other
attacks suffered by people expelled or blocked at
Ever ready to be “Good Samaritans,” the Sisters the U.S.-Mexico border under the Title 42 order.
of Bon Secours showed up on this chilly December
day to join sisters from over two dozen other As we stood in solidarity with our migrant
Congregations of Women Religious to urge brothers and sisters, we listened to Santiago, an
President Biden to rescind the misuse of Title 42. asylum seeker, describe the treacherous journey
he made from Honduras to Mexico, where he
A little-known provision of the Public Health Service lived for 11 years until it became too dangerous
Act of 1944, Title 42 gives the executive branch to stay. He described the border as a very difficult
of government the authority to close U.S. borders
and dangerous place to live, rife with criminal
to migrants when the director of the Centers for groups who threaten with violence, extortion and
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) deems that kidnapping. When a person was burned alive in
Being Good Help Without Borders the U.S. faces a “serious danger to the introduction front of his house, he and his family decided to

of a communicable disease” into the nation. Title 42
The Sisters of
Bon Secours was implemented in March 2020 in the early days seek asylum in the U.S., but not everyone was able
‘‘ ALL OF US HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WOUNDED, THOSE OF OUR OWN the White Biden’s administration, the CDC issued a new order my family. There is no longer any process to
to cross. Santiago pleaded, “Title 42 has separated
gather outside
of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under President
House with
request asylum access at the border. How many
Catholic sisters
continuing Title 42 expulsions indefinitely, despite
PEOPLE AND ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH. LET US CARE FOR THE NEEDS
more people have to die? How many people have
from around
OF EVERY MAN AND WOMAN, YOUNG AND OLD, WITH THE SAME FRATERNAL
statements that this use of Title 42 lacks public
SPIRIT OF CARE AND CLOSENESS THAT MARKED THE GOOD SAMARITAN.” the country. epidemiologists’ and public health experts’ repeated to be kidnapped before we end Title 42? Dead
people don’t need asylum, living people do.”
health justification and threatens public health.
Photos courtesy of
—POPE FRANCIS, FRATELLI TUTTI #79
NETWORK Lobby Please note: at the time of publication, President Biden
had signed a bill to end Title 42 starting May 23, 2022.
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