Catholic College Leaders Keep Spotlight On Unaccompanied Minors' Plight
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- This summer, as the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S. border from Central America skyrocketed, their plight was a top story stirring concern, promises of government action and plenty of finger pointing about what should happen.
Months later, overall attention on this issue has waned, particularly as the number of children crossing the U.S. border decreased slightly, from its peak of more than 10,000 in June to about 3,000 in August. But the crisis is far from resolved; it is expected by year's end that more than 70,000 unaccompanied minors will have crossed the U.S. border.
David Fike, president of Marygrove College in Detroit described the sheer number of children crossing the border as "historically unprecedented."
"We have to keep the attention on this issue," he stressed.
To this end, he has spearheaded an initiative signed by more than 50 Catholic college and university presidents Oct. 23 that calls attention to the ongoing plight of these children and points out that Catholic colleges have the "opportunity and obligation to respond."
The statement -- http://tinyurl.com/kt68c2d -- says these unaccompanied minors are "often targets of extortion, kidnapping and other criminal activity" and adds that "the longer we wait to act, the more young refugees will suffer."
Fike spoke publicly about this during a July press conference when he announced that the Detroit Catholic college would be a refuge for college-age immigrants fleeing Central America and would also provide food and shelter for unaccompanied children if the Obama administration agreed to recognize them as refugees instead of young people who entered the country illegally.
That stance seemed to "strike a chord," he told Catholic News Service Oct. 30, noting that other Catholic college leaders similarly felt the importance of helping the youths "at our doorstep seeking safety."
"It behooves us as a community to respond and to respect the dignity" of those seeking help and protection, he said, adding that he hoped the college leaders' statement will draw more attention to the issue and show policymakers that "something should be done."
In late September, the Obama administration announced it would allow several thousand children from Central American countries to apply for refugee status in the United States to join family members.
Specifics of the plan are still being worked out but details reported by The New York Times said refugees will be required to prove that they are fleeing their home countries based on persecution because of race, religion, nationality, political opinions, or group membership.
Fike said the administration has taken "some steps to create pathways" for these minors but he also emphasized that more can be done. He is against the administration's policy of fast-tracking immigration hearings for the unaccompanied minors because he said these minors often lack legal representation and end up being quickly deported.
Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University, and one of college leaders who signed the statement on the Central American children crossing the border, said it is "exactly the kind of issue Catholic higher education needs to be out in front on. What's happening to our children at the border is a disgrace and people of faith should speak up."
She said Trinity lives out its support of immigrant students by taking a few students each year who fall under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, and are given relief from deportation but no access to federal aid. Those who qualify for DACA were brought into the United States illegally as children.
This year, she said the university increased its number of these students by sponsoring 20 students through a partnership with www.thedream.us, a national scholarship fund for immigrant students.
Dominican University, outside Chicago, similarly sponsors such students through this partnership.
McGuire told CNS Oct. 30 that she would like more Catholic college campuses to make room for DACA students on their campuses.
"Even Catholic colleges can get in mindless competition for rankings," she said. "I wish we had a ranking for how we are dedicated to service."
McGuire and Fike both said they were disappointed that the plight of unaccompanied minors has fallen off the country's radar.
Fike attributed it to the challenge of the modern era "where so much information competes on the media screen."
McGuire faulted the lack of attention and action to the country's "sickness of hatred -- racial and ethnic" and also to the election season when she said there is "no political willpower" to do anything.
The discussion among Catholic college presidents about next steps to help immigrant students and children has been interesting, Fike said. He noted that they are looking at how to combine their efforts and raise student and community awareness through days of reflection, prayer services and social media campaigns. He also said there will likely be collaboration with dioceses and bishops on the issue.
"There is some real energy behind the notion that this issue -- and how we respond to it as Catholic institutions -- speaks to our faith, value and heritage," he said. "We've had a long history of welcoming immigrants; it's a seamless continuation of a role we've played for centuries."
