Cardinal Blase Cupich used a series of October 2025 statements to press a clear message from the Catholic Church to undocumented immigrants: the Church is staying close, defending human dignity, and calling on leaders to stop fear‑based tactics that break families and unsettle entire neighborhoods.
Speaking from Chicago, he said the community’s moral strength is measured by how it treats people who lack status yet contribute to the city’s life. He warned that raids, public shaming, and harsh rhetoric “wound the soul of our city,” and he urged Catholics, public officials, and neighbors to act with courage and compassion.
Context and timing
The Chicago archbishop’s remarks arrive amid a tense national debate over immigration enforcement and a political fight in Washington that has stalled broad reform. The Cardinal’s appeal adds a strong religious voice to calls for change.
He stressed that the state can protect borders and keep communities safe without denying the basic worth of people who have built lives here. “The church stands with migrants,” he said, describing himself as a “fellow pilgrim” with families who face detention, separation, and constant fear. He rejected the idea that safety and mercy cannot both be pursued.
Economic contributions and misperceptions
Cupich pushed back on claims that undocumented immigrants drain public resources or take jobs from citizens. Citing government data, he noted:
- Undocumented workers pay over $100 billion in taxes each year.
- They are expected to contribute $1.2 trillion in federal revenue over the next decade, even though many cannot access benefits.
He said language that paints undocumented immigrants as burdens is wrong and strips them of dignity. He pointed to:
- parents working two jobs,
- business owners paying staff,
- parish volunteers quietly supporting neighbors
as proof of how embedded immigrants are in Chicago’s economy and social life.
The Church’s broader position
The Cardinal’s words reflect the broader position of the Catholic Church. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has repeatedly called for comprehensive reform that:
- offers a path to citizenship for long‑term residents,
- keeps families together,
- ensures targeted, humane enforcement.
Church leaders oppose mass deportations and support protections for vulnerable groups like refugees and people brought to the United States as children. Catholic parishes and charities put this teaching into practice daily with food, shelter, legal referrals, and pastoral care—efforts rooted in a Gospel command to welcome the stranger and respect every person.
Local impact in Chicago
While there has been no sweeping federal policy change since past high‑profile operations known as the “Midway Blitz,” Cupich said local actions still disrupt communities and fuel anxiety. He described a ripple effect across parishes:
- Mass attendance down in some Latino congregations
- Parents hesitant to drive or take public transit
- People avoiding clinics, schools, or grocery stores out of fear
He framed these outcomes as a public health and social stability issue, not just a legal one. Schools, churches, and hospitals feel the strain when families retreat from normal life to avoid attention.
“The moral cost of family separation is immense,” he said, asking how a country that values family can deport parents in front of their U.S. citizen children.
He emphasized that family unity is both a private and a public good: when children lose caregivers, classrooms and communities bear long‑term impacts. Policy must weigh these harms and place the well‑being of children at the center of enforcement, detention, and removal decisions.
Safety claims and historical parallels
The Cardinal rebutted harsh narratives linking immigrants to increased crime, noting that crime data do not support such claims. He warned against reviving patterns of suspicion that targeted past immigrant groups—citing the 1920s quotas on Southern and Eastern Europeans as an unjust precedent that hurt national growth.
He highlighted Chicago’s history, where newcomers have shaped industries, arts, faith communities, and neighborhoods across generations—examples that, he argued, show the city’s strength when it welcomes people.
Nonpartisan moral clarity
Cupich insisted the Church’s stance is not partisan. The Church’s task, he said, is to defend human dignity and the common good, not to take sides in party battles. The aim is to change the tone of national conversation and open a path to reasonable, humane reform.
He urged bishops to be more vocal and compassionate in their support for immigrants—an approach built on Catholic social teaching and parish pastoral experience with mixed‑status families.
Practical guidance and parish support
The Cardinal offered practical steps for undocumented immigrants and parishes:
- Stay connected to parishes and the Archdiocese’s immigrant ministries for referrals to lawful, low‑cost legal help and community support.
- Parish leaders can help families:
- prepare documents,
- make safety plans,
- avoid scams,
- explain basic rights during encounters with enforcement officers,
- understand limits on enforcement actions near certain locations.
The Archdiocese of Chicago keeps resources and updates on its website at archchicago.org.
Community advocates also note federal guidance that limits enforcement in certain “protected areas” such as places of worship, schools, and healthcare facilities. Readers can review current DHS guidance here: U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Civil Immigration Enforcement Actions in or near Protected Areas. While guidance can change, church leaders stress that enforcement should not stop people from seeking medical care, going to school, or practicing their faith.
Economic and workplace appeals
Cupich praised immigrant labor across key sectors—construction, food service, home care, and tech support—and argued it is unfair to benefit from that work while denying immigrants a place in public life. He reminded leaders that undocumented immigrants:
- pay into public systems but often cannot draw on them when sick, injured, or retired,
- stabilize businesses and planning when given stable status.
He urged employers, unions, and business groups to speak candidly about how immigrant labor supports growth and how stable status benefits both workers and companies.
National policy push and Church priorities
At the national level, the USCCB continues to press for comprehensive legislation that includes:
- a path to citizenship for long‑time residents with deep ties (including those with U.S. citizen children),
- fair background checks and reasonable wait times,
- rules that do not set families up to fail,
- smarter enforcement focusing on real threats, not parents and workers who have lived here for years.
In Chicago, Cupich pledged to keep working with civic groups, unions, small business owners, and public officials to build local approaches that reduce fear and keep families together.
Parish‑level actions and community resources
Cupich urged Catholics to see immigrants as neighbors, not “issues.” He described pastoral care as:
- listening first,
- then offering help that matches real needs—legal referrals, translation at appointments, rides to Mass,
- keeping parish doors open and ministries flexible so families can come without fear.
VisaVerge.com’s analysis notes that faith‑based advocacy often bridges policy and daily life—pushing accurate information into communities, warning against scams, and connecting people with accredited legal help. Practical steps recommended include gathering key documents:
- birth certificates,
- marriage records,
- medical records,
- proof of time in the country.
These steps lower stress and prepare families for future opportunities if laws change.
Public health, costs, and enforcement effects
Cupich warned that fear‑based enforcement discourages people from seeking medical and social services, leading to:
- late diagnoses and untreated illnesses,
- missed vaccinations for children,
- higher long‑term costs for health systems.
Hospitals and clinics report spikes in missed appointments after raids or viral rumors. Teachers notice absences and rising anxiety. For Cupich, such signals show why enforcement should be targeted and proportional—with the standard being law with mercy, not law without judgment.
Employers, labor leaders, and stronger protections
He called on employers and labor leaders to:
- protect workers from wage theft, unsafe conditions, and retaliation regardless of status,
- publicly acknowledge how stable status improves productivity and planning,
- encourage unions to build trust with immigrant workers and support fair pay and safe workplaces.
These actions support both long‑time residents and new arrivals and fit with a city that wants balanced growth and social peace.
Improving public conversation
Cupich urged better public discourse:
- Correct false claims that undocumented immigrants commit more crimes.
- Track and publicize the real costs of fear—missed clinic visits, school absences, trauma.
- Encourage neighbors to check on one another, share accurate information, and report scams.
- Equip parish leaders to teach people how to spot false legal advice and find trusted help.
Spiritual and pastoral preparedness
He described the Church as a place where people bring worry, grief, and hope. Priests, deacons, and lay leaders meet families at crises: court letters, calls from detention, or a knock at the door. He wants every parish to have a response plan with clearly identified contacts for legal help and child comfort.
He encouraged bilingual liturgies and cross‑parish partnerships so immigrants feel at home and long‑time parishioners can serve as allies.
Three guiding pillars
Cupich framed the Church’s stance around three core principles:
- Human dignity — every person, regardless of status, deserves respect and fair treatment.
- Family unity — policy should avoid tearing children from parents or forcing spouses apart for years.
- The common good — society functions best when people can live without fear and contribute openly.
These principles do not negate border control; they shape how the country balances order with care for people already part of its fabric.
He reiterated that fear is not a policy and humiliation is not justice, calling leaders to reject language that paints people as invaders or burdens. He said public prayer and acts of welcome are forms of solidarity that calm fear, not political stunts, and urged parishes to host workshops with immigration lawyers and know‑your‑rights sessions.
Concrete ways to help
For those seeking to act, Cupich suggested practical steps:
- Parish groups host legal education nights with trusted attorneys.
- Volunteers help families gather identity and residency documents.
- Schools keep parents informed about attendance, counseling, and health services.
- Employers post information about worker rights.
- Neighbors accompany families to court or appointments.
The Archdiocese lists ministries and contacts at archchicago.org, and national advocacy resources are available through the USCCB’s campaign at justiceforimmigrants.org.
Closing appeal
As debate continues in Washington, Cardinal Cupich said he will keep speaking for people who cannot safely raise their voices. He called on Catholics to meet fear with steady friendship and to treat each migrant as a person, not a problem.
He asked public officials to set aside point scoring and write laws that match the country’s ideals, warning that the cost of delay is paid by:
- children who worry daily,
- workers who cannot plan their futures,
- communities living with tension instead of trust.
He closed by returning to the heart of the Church’s message: every person has worth, families belong together, and a stable, humane system helps everyone—from a child who sleeps better to a business that can plan for next year. Chicago’s story, he said, is a living sign of what happens when people are allowed to belong. The question remains whether the country will choose fear or the better path that blends order with mercy.
This Article in a Nutshell
In October 2025, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago issued a strong moral appeal for humane immigration policy, condemning raids, public shaming, and rhetoric that fracture families and destabilize neighborhoods. Emphasizing that safety and mercy are compatible, Cupich noted that undocumented workers contribute over $100 billion annually and could add roughly $1.2 trillion in federal revenue over the next decade. He urged parishes to provide legal referrals, pastoral support, and workshops, and called on employers, unions, and policymakers to back reforms—led by USCCB principles—that include pathways to citizenship, family unity, and targeted, proportionate enforcement. Cupich framed the Church’s role as nonpartisan moral leadership urging policies that protect human dignity and the common good.
