As a Jesuit institution, our commitment to cura personalis carries moral responsibilities that extend beyond academics and faith. The Jesuit identity shapes how we understand social justice, human dignity and our obligation to care for the whole person, including the most vulnerable members of society. When public policy acts in opposition to these ideals, it is our responsibility to condemn them and advocate for change. This is especially relevant today, as the mission of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain and deport immigrants presents such a conflict.
ICE’s primary function is enforcement of immigration law. While this mission acts in accordance with the law, its consequences include mass detention, family separation, trauma and the placement of individuals in unsafe living conditions. These outcomes challenge the Jesuit mission of caring for the vulnerable and supporting practices that uphold human dignity for all people.
As stated by Pope Benedict XVI, every immigrant, as a person, has “fundamental, inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance.”
“Acknowledging the contradiction between ICE’s mission and Jesuit values is not optional if those values are to mean anything in practice.”
Humanity transcends beyond borders and nationalities, and we share a responsibility to support the well-being of all people. From the Jesuit lens — and a human lens —, immigration is not merely a policy issue but rather an experience often influenced by economic inequality, violence and environmental changes. Responding to suffering with indifference undermines the Jesuit call to care for the whole person.
Acknowledging the contradiction between ICE’s mission and Jesuit values is not optional if those values are to mean anything in practice. Softening and ignoring this reality undermines the Jesuit commitment to solidarity and allows injustice to persist. A Jesuit institution cannot stand with the vulnerable while remaining silent on systems that inflict fear and exclusion on immigrant communities. Addressing this conflict is integral in affirming human dignity, rejecting structures of injustice and adhering to the moral ideals at the core of the Jesuit tradition.
