For Immediate Release: March 25, 2024

WASHINGTON – In the wake of political attacks on vulnerable migrants at the border, and one year after the killing of 40 people in immigration detention in Ciudad Juárez, immigration advocates gathered in El Paso on March 21 for “Do Not Be Afraid,” a march and vigil for human dignity. The Hope Border Institute and the Diocese of El Paso hosted the event.

NETWORK Executive Director Mary J. Novak, who attended the march and vigil, said:

“This is a critical moment to refuse fear and scapegoating in this country. People who believe in human dignity know that the rhetoric used by politicians to spread fear against immigrants at our southern border and those who serve them is dangerous for everyone. This gathering of faith-filled justice-seekers in El Paso offers a powerful glimpse of people from all backgrounds refusing to be divided or dehumanized. We cannot make God’s work illegal. I am confident that this coalition will bring lasting, meaningful changes to U.S. immigration policy that allow every person, regardless of race or national background, to flourish.”

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Founded by Catholic Sisters in 1972, in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, NETWORK is an inclusive, national, Catholic advocacy organization open to all who share our values, working to achieve equity and justice for everyone. Grounded in Gospel values and the Catholic social justice tradition, NETWORK transforms our society by shaping federal policies that achieve racial, economic, and social justice; serve the common good; and honor the dignity of all.