Social Justice Tag: Immigration

May 2026

Articles from Mercy:

• • Critical Considerations Has Eisenhower’s worst nightmare come true? (Karen Donahue, RSM)
• • The nonviolent struggle in Peru (español) (Carmen Rosa Ccallomamani, RSM; Institute Justice Team)
• • Participation in democracy (Rose Marie Tresp, RSM; Institute Justice Team)
• • Report on global fossil fuel transition conference (Marianne Comfort; Institute Justice Team)
• • Catholic high school visits Casa Misericordia and Sister Mary Waskowiak (Marcel Viens, Mercy associate)

Local Justice News & Upcoming Mercy Events

Justice Resources & Links

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Critical Considerations

Has Eisenhower’s worst nightmare come true?

Karen Donahue, RSM

On April 3, 2026, the Trump administration submitted its budget request for FY 27, which included an astounding $1.5 trillion ($1,500,000,000,000) for the military. This figure represents an increase of almost fifty percent over FY 26, and the increase itself ($500 billion) is larger than the military budgets of every nation on Earth, including U.S. rivals Russia and China. On top of this, the Trump administration is also asking for additional supplemental funding (as much as $200 billion) for its war on Iran.

In a recent article published on both the TomDispatch and Foreign Policy in Focus websites, William D. Hartung, a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said, “Right at this moment, we are witnessing an unprecedented shift of resources from domestic investments in the United States to the military-industrial complex.”

For example, Pentagon budget experts estimate that the cost of the first two weeks of the U.S./Israel war on Iran was $28 billion. This sum is more than three times the Trump administration’s annual budgets for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency, government entities responsible for protecting the country from emerging pandemics and the increasingly detrimental impact of climate change.

This massive influx of money to the Pentagon is even more scandalous in light of cuts to nutrition assistance programs and health care such as subsidies to help people purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

In his farewell address to the nation on January 17, 1961, outgoing President Dwight Eisenhower warned the country about the influence of the military-industrial complex. He said,

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The nonviolent struggle in Peru

Carmen Rosa Ccallomamani, RSM; Institute Justice Team

traducido del español original

Peru is a country of immense wealth in every respect, both in terms of its cultural diversity and its environmental biodiversity. Instead of celebrating this wealth and embracing it as a great opportunity for our well-being and development as a country, we find ourselves mired in a deep crisis and violence in every sphere.

For more than two decades, this situation of crisis and violence has been growing increasingly severe. At the political level, many leaders look out only for their own personal or partisan interests, discriminating against those who do not belong to their social class. Human dignity is constantly trampled upon and disregarded.

Our environment is being invaded by large mining companies that are destroying and violating our territories. Rural and farming communities are treated as second- and third-class citizens, to the point of being subjected to offensive remarks claiming that “we don’t think straight because, due to the altitude, oxygen doesn’t reach our brains.” As I write this short story, I cannot help but feel a deep sadness at the discrimination faced by the vast majority of Peruvians.

The education sector is receiving an increasingly smaller share of the budget. Many young people used to have access to benefits such as the Beca 18 scholarship, but even those programs have been scaled back, while the government allocates millions to the purchase of military aircraft.

In recent months, we have been going through an election season fraught with uncertainty. The national elections were held on April 12, and as of now, the final results of the presidential runoff have not been officially announced. There is intense tension and electoral violence because one of the defeated candidates refuses to accept the results and alleges fraud, claiming he received no votes in rural areas. However, one might ask: How did he expect to receive support from a population he has constantly insulted and discriminated against?

On the other hand, we once again see [former president] Fujimori’s daughter as one of the candidates advancing to the runoff. For much of the Peruvian population, his presence is a nightmare, as Fujimorism has maintained a strong influence in Congress for more than 15 years, and, as a result of the political crisis, Peru has had 8 presidents in recent years. Since it is Congress that has been in power.

In the face of all this, our hope remains with the organizations of rural communities, which, despite the neglect and mistreatment they endure, continue to fight nonviolently for dignity, justice, and the defense of life..

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Participation in democracy

Rose Marie Tresp, RSM; Institute Justice Team

The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.

—Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson, signing of the Voting Rights Act (video), 06 August 1965

I often have people say to me that they are worried or concerned about what is happening recently in the United States and the world, but they feel helpless to do anything. But every person can contribute to making a difference through direct service to those in need, practical actions, or even a listening ear. But also, we can all contribute to change in the political arena. 

Pope Francis, during a pastoral visit to Trieste in 2024, stated:

So practically, what can each of us do?

First, believe that your vote does make a difference. In 2024, only 65% of eligible citizens voted. The winning margin in the 2024 presidential election was small in historical terms. In local elections where the turnout is often low, a small number of voters make big decisions that affect what happens in school districts and in cities and counties. Twenty-nine elections in 2024 ended in ties; many more elections were won by a small margin.

Second, find out what non-partisan organizations are active in your state in voter education, registration, and participation. In many areas, the League of Women Voters is very active. The Center for Common Ground, When We All Vote, and Election Protection all have assistance and resources to facilitate participation in voting and voter education. The Brennan Center for Justice has great resources on research, education, and advocacy.

Third, there are many other ways to participate. Non-profits and members of religious communities cannot support partisan politics nor those running for political office with posters, signs, and donations. However, religious can participate in partisan activities such as phone banking, post carding, etc., since these are done without identification as a religious or identification with the religious community. With the increasing scrutiny of non-profit organizations in today’s political environment, the importance of caution by those belonging to non-profits is very important. This also applies to those working for non-profits, particularly those non-religious in leadership roles. The accusations toward the Southern Poverty Law Center are a cautionary example.

These are examples of participation in the voting process:

From the Bulletin of the Resource Center for Religious Institutes, Summer 2024:

Pope Francis, again in Trieste: “As Catholics, on this horizon, we cannot be satisfied with a marginal or private faith. … This means not so much to be heard, but above all to have the courage to make proposals for justice and peace in the public debate.”

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Report on global fossil fuel transition conference

Marianne Comfort; Institute Justice Team

Last month, representatives from more than 50 countries and hundreds of organizations gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, for the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels.

The governments of Colombia and the Netherlands convened this gathering out of frustration that United Nations climate talks haven’t been able to move the needle on addressing one of the root causes of the climate crisis: the widespread extraction of coal, oil and gas.

Two of our partners with the Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns attended the conference and reported feeling hopeful about this “new kind of multilateralism.” Whereas the official UN talks require consensus, and so agreements get watered down, this conference aimed to get the “coalition of the willing” focused on practical steps.

You may read their report on the conference here.

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Featured Contributor

Catholic high school visits Casa Misericordia and Sister Mary Waskowiak

Marcel Viens, Mercy associate

The author volunteers at Verbum Dei Jesuit High School, an all-boys Cristo Rey Network preparatory school in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. This article, published with permission, was originally shared with faculty and staff of that school and details a visit by a small group of students to Casa Misericordia in San Diego.

On Friday, May 8, eight of our Eagles traveled to San Diego’s Barrio Logan to learn more about many aspects that encompass the immigration issue. Our host was Sister Mary Waskowiak, a Sister of Mercy who established Casa Misericordia (originally on the campus of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish) to assist immigrants with the myriad of issues and obstacles they face.

The day started with a quick stop at Chicano Park just below the start of the Coronado Bridge. The support pilings and adjacent area are painted with a rich history.

Sister Mary welcomed us at Salon Tepeyac, originally a facility that housed immigrants overnight, and now serves meals, provides support, camaraderie and kinship.

Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ joined us to share about the parish’s rich history with the immigrant community and ongoing efforts on their behalf.

We then ventured a few miles south to the “Border Wall” as Sister Mary shared stories about the wall, crossings, and interactions with U.S. Border Patrol and ICE. We didn’t have time to climb the hill for an overlook of the entire area and see where the wall juts out into the ocean.

We returned to Salon Tepeyac for a traditional homemade Mexican lunch prepared by parish staff. We received a visit from an immigrant woman who was a victim of trafficking. Her story of abuse as a child and then being trafficked as a young girl provided us with an opportunity to see the face of such trauma and ask questions. She was amazing with her openness and is admittedly still seeking therapy in her healing process. She now assists and counsels others who have suffered similar experiences. It was an eyeopener!

Then it was off to the newly established Pope Francis Center that will provide services for immigrants, refugees, and those seeking asylum. Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish is using their former convent to accommodate the services as a part of their parish outreach.

Fr. Scott met with us again to share more details about all that goes on in the “Barrio” parish intended to serve the immigrant community. As this was the former Casa Misericordia location, Sister Mary took us on a tour to see the entire facility.

Back at Salon Tepeyac, we were paid a visit by a University of California San Diego senior, originally from El Salvador, who shared the nightmare situation she and her mother experienced there. They traveled by bus and by foot to the U.S. seeking a better life. As could be expected, her story was eye-opening. We were able to ask questions and learn more about her experiences. It was gratifying to know how far she and her mother have come since making the move.

Before departing, we visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, adjacent to the parish church.

And what would a thirteen-hour day be – with five hours crammed into a van – without a little session of “boys being boys” at Chicano Park. Gotta love these guys! A lot learned, and all of it so relevant today. And finally, a stop at In-n-Out in San Clemente.

Thanks to Sister Mary Waskowiak, RSM, Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ and our courageous speakers, we had a great day. Sister Mary has invited us to continue to offer immersion trips to our boys. She even piqued their brains about ways to make it even more valuable to them.

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