ISJ Essay: Due Process Denied

Over the past two years, parishioners attending the Sunday Mass in Wallace Hall have welcomed with open arms the families who have been part of our Migrant Accompaniment Program. With both Moms and Dads working, many have now been able to move into their own homes, enroll their children in permanent schools, and begin a new life in their communities. You may recognize Antonella. She helped her school win the Softball Championship this Spring.

Sadly, as we see every day in news reports, families like this are being targeted and face uncertainty for simply complying with the law to attend required court hearings. In this PBS interview on August 4th, Fr. Brian Strassburger, S.J., discusses how the court system is now being used to deny due process to many. Many from our parish have met Fr. Brian. He invited our parishioners in 2022 to “come and see” what was happening at the border—and that visit led to the development of our own Migrant Accompaniment Program.

This denial of due process is not just happening in Texas; it is happening right here in New York City. In just the past week, the daughter of an Episcopal priest was stopped while leaving the immigration court and locked in detention. Only through protests at the Courthouse by New Yorkers and a large contingent of clergy was the young woman eventually released. This demonstrated the power of religious leaders when taking a public stance.

Our parish is committed to supporting efforts to help our migrant sisters and brothers. On September 14, in our Parish House, we will participate in a program sponsored by The Center for Migration Services/Fordham University to discuss the programs we have supported over the past three years. Please join us.

For more information, email Laura de Boisblanc at [email protected].

— Anne Melanson