'Les Misérables' and the moral questions behind migration
On a recent vacation, I read Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables." Hugo was truly a poet and philosopher. "Les Misérables" became one of his most popular works through its musical presentation ...
Deportation and the conscience of a nation
A short history of America's fascination with deportation may help us understand the present situation and correct some of its excesses. Daniel Kanstroom, author of the definitive work on outsiders ...
Critical points in immigration history: From restriction to reform and back again
Recently, I gave two presentations: first at the Pope St. John XXIII Seminary in Massachusetts, and the second at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Both presentations were on the past 100 years ...
The Cabrini Pledge: An invitation to be keepers of hope
On Nov. 13, the church celebrated the feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patroness of all immigrants. On that occasion, the bishops of the United States and the bishops of the state of New York issued ...
The effects of mass deportations on the labor market in America
For the past 40 years, undocumented immigration has been fueled by a lack of legal avenues for immigrant workers to fill critical jobs in the economy, and a failure by Congress to reform the system to ...
How public opinion can influence migration policies
Public opinion seems to have a particular effect when it comes to the social policy regarding migration. From December 2003 to December 2005, I represented the United States as one of the 19 commissioners ...
Is it a trap, repatriation or deportation?
The recent offer of self-deportation assistance by the Department of Homeland Security is a first for our nation, but it replicates the practice of many anti-immigrant countries. The offer that was ...
The impact of DOGE cuts on migrants and refugees
The funding cuts initiated by the current administration, launched by the new and powerful Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have indiscriminately affected many vital programs, especially those ...
