Mexico: Bishops serving along the Mexico–United States border have once again raised their voices against the growing humanitarian crisis faced by migrants, condemning the “inhumane and dangerous” conditions endured by thousands fleeing violence, poverty, and political instability. The appeal came following their recent meeting in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, where bishops from both sides of the border gathered to assess the worsening situation.
In their joint statement, the bishops described the migratory path through Mexico as “the most dangerous in the world.” The International Organization for Migration has also confirmed that those escaping dire conditions in their homelands encounter even greater risks on Mexican soil where criminal gangs, traffickers, and corrupt officials prey upon the vulnerable.
Kidnappings, extortion, forced labor, and sexual violence have become part of the daily ordeal. To compound this suffering, U.S. policies introduced this year such as restrictions on asylum applications via the CBP One app, family separations, deportations to third countries, and dismantling of shelters have made an already perilous journey nearly unbearable.
Bishop Gustavo García Siller of San Antonio, Texas, expressed frustration over what he sees as a hardened stance from U.S. authorities. “Migration is always complicated no doubt, it’s not easy. We, as bishops, have been very proactive, but in the face of these policies, we are experiencing a closing of doors and a defensive stance so strong that it requires us to find new strategies,” he said.
The bishops’ gathering was not only about analysis but also about presence. They visited shelters and listened directly to migrants stories Bishop Alfonso Miranda Guardiola of Piedras Negras described as “heart-wrenching.”
Men and women told of selling everything they owned to finance their journey, only to fall prey to organized crime, forced to pay “fees” at every stage or risk death. Families spoke of nights spent hiding in fear, and of children who went hungry for days.
Adding to their suffering, many shelters have been forced to scale back operations due to dwindling resources, leaving migrants with no safe haven. Humanitarian organizations already stretched thin are struggling to provide food, legal aid, and medical attention.
In their final message, the bishops called on governments and civil society to act decisively: “We urge immediate measures to open safe and legal humanitarian corridors for the most vulnerable migrants and refugees.”
They stressed that while nations retain the right to secure their borders, this must never come at the expense of human dignity. “Every country has the responsibility to safeguard life, to protect families, and to uphold the right to asylum,” the statement read.
Beyond migration, the bishops also drew attention to the violence plaguing Mexican cities. In Culiacán, a stronghold of cartel influence, more than 50,000 citizens dressed in white marched for peace after yet another surge of killings linked to drug wars.
Bishop Jesús José Herrera Quiñónez of Culiacán, who walked alongside his people during the march, issued a heartfelt appeal: “We must walk with those who suffer, teach our young people to seek truth and goodness, and strengthen family and community life. Our city needs, now more than ever, men and women who will become artisans of peace.”
As the bishops insist, the border crisis is no longer simply a political or legal debate it is a test of moral responsibility. With migrants left exposed to crime, hunger, and despair, and with violence consuming communities, the Church has renewed its call: to place human dignity at the center of every policy, and to build bridges of solidarity across one of the world’s most contested frontiers.