As border dynamics change, priest keeps ministering to migrants and deportees | National News

But while border crossings have drastically shrunk under President Donald Trump’s administration, the Jesuit priest said his mission remains centered on embodying the Christian message “that God is accompanying you on your journey.

kAm“p?5 E96 ;@FC?6J[ H96E96C :E’D ?@CE93@F?5 @C D@FE93@F?5[ :?G@=G6D 2 =@E @7 DF776C:?8[” $EC2DD3FC86C 25565] “(6 92G6 2 72:E9 E92E DA62:5 E92E DF776C:?8] (6 92G6 2 v@5 H9@ D2JD[ ‘x H2?E E@ 36 @?6 @7 J@F]’”k^Am

kAmq2D65 😕 E96 #:@ vC2?56 ‘2==6J 😕 %6I2D[ $EC2DD3FC86C 9625D E96 s6= r2>:?@ y6DF:E q@C56C |:?:DEC:6D[ 2 EC:@ @7 y6DF:ED H9@ 92G6 366? AC@G:5:?8 |2DD 2?5 @E96C D24C2>6?ED E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^=2E:?\2>6C:42\C6=:8:@?\>6I:4@\f`4h334fad4`_fgd27feeec5_6345da2Qm>:8C2?ED @? 3@E9 D:56Dk^2m @7 E96 &]$]\|6I:42? 3@C56C D:?46 a_a`]k^Am

k9amq@C56C 4C@DD:?8D A=F>>6E F?56C %CF>Ak^9am

kAmq24< E96?[ E9@FD2?5D @7 >:8C2?ED 4C2>>65 :?E@ 32C6\3@?6D D96=E6CD 52:=J 367@C6 2?5 27E6C 4C@DD:?8 E96 3@C56C 😕 C64@C5 ?F>36CD]k^Am

kAm}62C=J a]d >:==:@? A6@A=6 4C@DD65 E96 3@C56C :==682==J @C 42>6 =682==J E9C@F89 2 DJDE6> 7@C E9@D6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>6I:4@\FD\43A\@?6\>:8C2?ED\2DJ=F>\6_cc__b632cahde6h6`7d_3a__h`af75QmD66<:?8 9F>2?:E2C:2? AC@E64E:@?Dk^2m 7C@> |2J a_ab[ H96? y@6 q:56?’D 25>:?:DEC2E:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>6I:4@\E:E=6\ca\>:8C2E:@?\3@C56C\3:56?\c6g`bd`bc635ff22ab5c2edf47ac67ggQm6?565 r~’xs\`h C6DEC:4E:@?Dk^2m @? 2DJ=F>[ F?E:= y2?F2CJ a_ad[ H96? %CF>A 564=2C65 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3@C56C\A2EC@=\6>6C86?4J\2DJ=F>\ECF>A\bcfh2ad4chgh2cbf4g4hbc3gc547af_dQm?2E:@?2= 6>6C86?4J 2E E96 3@C56Ck^2m 2E E96 DE2CE @7 9:D D64@?5 E6C>]k^Am

kAm$EC2DD3FC86C 46=63C2E65 |2DD 😕 A24<65 D96=E6CD 😕 |4p==6?[ %6I2D[ 2?5 ;FDE 24C@DD E96 #:@ vC2?56 😕 #6J?@D2[ |6I:4@[ H96C6 >2?J E9@FD2?5D D=6AE 😕 E6?ED 😕 >2<6D9:7E D96=E6CD 2?5 9F?5C65D >@C6 H2:E65 @FED:56 7@C 2 492?46 E@ 4C@DD :?E@ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 6G6? 2D E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@? DE2CE65 E@ :>A@D6 C6DEC:4E:@?D]k^Am

kAmw6 H2D E96C6[ 2E 2 D96=E6C CF? 3J r2E9@=:4 ?F?D[ E96 52J 27E6C E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 42?46=65 2== k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^43A\@?6\ECF>A\3:56?\>6I:4@\3@C56C\2AA\g26abdfbbg7c7dbed5a7h2d`662f4hcbQm3@C56C 2AA@:?E>6?EDk^2m H@F=5\36 2DJ=F>\D66<6CD 925 >256 E9C@F89 2? 2AA E@ 6?E6C E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]k^Am

kAmp7E6C 46=63C2E:?8 |2DD[ 96 2D<65 A6@A=6 9@H E96J H6C6 >2?28:?8 E96 ?6HD] |@DE D2:5 E96J H6C6 766=:?8 56G2DE2E65[ E6CC:7:65 2?5 5646:G65] qFE @?6 H@>2? C2:D65 96C 92?5 2?5 D2:5[ 😕 $A2?:D9[ “%96 =2DE E9:?8 H6 =@D6 😀 9@A6]”k^Am

kAm“$2?5C2[ D96 5@6D?’E A=246 96C 9@A6 😕 2 D>2CEA9@?6 2AA @C 😕 2 AC6D:56?E:2= 25>:?:DEC2E:@? @C 😕 2 8@G6C?>6?E] $96 AFED 96C 9@A6 😕 E96 {@C5[ 2?5 E92E 😀 2 9@A6 E92E 5@6D?’E 5:D2AA@:?E[ 6G6? 😕 E96 >:5DE @7 E96 56DA2:C:?8 >@>6?ED @7 =:76[” $EC2DD3FC86C C642==65] “x7 $2?5C2 42? D2J E92E[ 😕 E92E 52J 2?5 😕 E92E >@>6?E[ 9@H 42? x =@D6 9@A6 😕 >J @H? >:?:DECJ 96C6 @? E96 3@C56Cn”k^Am

k9am~?6 AC:6DE’D ;@FC?6J E@ >:?:DECJ @? E96 3@C56Ck^9am

kAm%96 c`\J62C\@=5 A2DE@C’D ;@FC?6J E@ E96 AC:6DE9@@5 2?5 3@C56C >:?:DECJ H2D @?6 @7 8C246 >@C6 E92? A=2??:?8[ $EC2DD3FC86C D2:5]k^Am

kAm#2:D65 😕 r@=@C25@ 3J r2E9@=:4 A2C6?ED[ 96 5C62>65 @7 364@>:?8 2 525[ >2E9 E62496C 2?5 32D<6E32== 4@249 😕 2 y6DF:E 9:89 D49@@= =:<6 E96 @?6 96 2EE6?565] xE H2D 27E6C 4@==686[ H9:=6 G@=F?E66C:?8 H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A@A6\=6@\I:G\G2E:42?\2F8FDE:?6\bc2af3e362h6b5cg_`_243a73525e_ceQmE96 pF8FDE:?:2?Dk^2m — 2>@?8 H9@> 96 >6E E96 7FEFC6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^A@A6\=6@\I:GQm!@A6 {6@ )x’k^2m — E92E 96 7:CDE 4@?D:56C65 2 C6=:8:@FD G@42E:@?[ 6DA64:2==J H96? >:?:DE6C:?8 E@ pxs$ G:4E:>D 2E 2 9@DA:46 😕 $@FE9 p7C:42]k^Am

kAm“x’5 2=H2JD E9@F89E 2 C6=:8:@FD G@42E:@? @C 2 AC:6DE9@@5 H2D =:<6 E9:D 4C@DD E92E J@F 362C 3642FD6 v@5 E6==D J@F J@F 92G6 E@] w6’D =:<6[ ‘$@CCJ[ qC:2?[ J@F’C6 @?6 @7 E9@D6 @?6D H9@ 92D E@ 36 2 AC:6DE]’ p?5 J@F’C6 =:<6[ ‘~z[ v@5[’” $EC2DD3FC86C D2:5] “x DE2CE65 E@ E9:?<[ H92E :7 E96 =:76 @7 AC:6DE9@@5 :D?’E E9:D 8C62E 3FC56?[ 3FE 24EF2==J E96 H2J 7@C >6 E@ 36 >J 36DE D6=7n”k^Am

kAmx? a_“[ 96 6?E6C65 E96 y6DF:E ?@G:E:2E6 2?5 7:G6 J62CD =2E6C[ 56DA:E6 @H:?8 ?@ $A2?:D9[ 96 H2D D6?E E@ }:42C28F2 7@C >@C6 E92? EH@ J62CD] ~? 9:D C6EFC?[ ?6H=J 3:=:?8F2=[ 96 DA6?E 2 DF>>6C 2E E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^G:CFD\@FE3C62<\FD\?6HD\2A\E@A\?6HD\C6:?G6?E:?8\72:E9\=:76DEJ=6\43`4dc`_eg_fhg273d5he4b_6g56d`edQmz:?@ q@C56C x?:E:2E:G6k^2m 😕 E96 EH@ }@82=6D — E96 4:E:6D 😕 pC:K@?2 2?5 |6I:4@ ;FDE 24C@DD E96 76?46]k^Am

kAm%92E’D H96C6 96 7@F?5 9:D >:DD:@?[ E96 :562= A=246 7@C 9:D 23:=:EJ E@ ?2G:82E6 2 3:=:?8F2= 4@?E6IE 2?5 D6CG6 2D 2 3C:586] p7E6C @C5:?2E:@?[ 9:D DFA6C:@C 2D<65 9:> E@ 6DE23=:D9 2 y6DF:E AC6D6?46 😕 E96 #:@ vC2?56 ‘2==6J[ =:E6C2==J 2E E96 4@F?ECJ’D >2C8:?D[ E96 A=246D H96C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A@A6\7C2?4:D\>:8C2?E\25G@42E6\ga`hb3467a`7_he46d7hfdc332g7_433Qm!@A6 uC2?4:Dk^2m 925 FC865 E96 49FC49 E@ 8@]k^Am

kAm“x 4@F=5?’E 92G6 D2:5 J6D 72DE 6?@F89[” $EC2DD3FC86C D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E E96 =@42= 3:D9@A E96? 2DD:8?65 9:> 2?5 2?@E96C y6DF:E 2 D:>A=6 >:DD:@?] “w6 D2:5[ ‘#625 E96 C62=:EJ 2?5 C6DA@?5 E@ :E]’ p?5 E92E’D H92E H6’G6 366? ECJ:?8 E@ 5@ D:?46 E96?] p?5 H6 :56?E:7:65 G6CJ BF:4<=J E96 ?665 7@C A2DE@C2= 244@>A2?:>6?E @7 E96 >:8C2?E A@AF=2E:@?]”k^Am

k9amp ?6H >:DD:@? 2E E96 3@C56C 7@C E9@D6 56E2:?65 2?5 56A@CE65k^9am

kAm(:E9 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>:8C2?ED\92:E:2?D\DAC:?87:6=5\@9:@\:>>:8C2E:@?\4C24<5@H?\A2DE@CD\764g4e766fb443hf4c3355e5_gehf4feQm@?8@:?8 :>>:8C2E:@? 4C24<5@H?k^2m[ $EC2DD3FC86C 92D 366? 7@4FD:?8 @? 46=63C2E:?8 C68F=2C |2DD6D 2E EH@ =2C86 %6I2D 56E6?E:@? 46?E6CD 2D H6== 2D 😕 D96=E6CD 😕 |6I:4@]k^Am

kAm~?6 @7 E96>[ 😕 |2E2>@C@D[ 😀 CF? 3J |6I:42? 2FE9@C:E:6D 7@C A6@A=6 H9@’G6 366? 56A@CE65 — D@>6 @7 E96> 27E6C 564256D 😕 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ =:<6 @?6 H@>2? H:E9 D:I 49:=5C6?[ 2== &]$] 4:E:K6?D[ 286D `h E@ e] $96 H2D 2CC6DE65 27E6C ah J62CD 😕 E96 4@F?ECJ[ C:89E 367@C6 r9C:DE>2D 2E 2? :>>:8C2E:@? 4@FCE 4964<\:?]k^Am

kAm“$96’D =:<6[ ‘x ;FDE <66A E9:?<:?8[ H2D :E 2 >:DE2<6 7@C >6 E@ 6G6? ECJ E@ C68F=2C:K6 >J DE2EFDn {:<6[ :7 x 925 ?@E 8@?6 E@ 4@FCE E92E 52J[ H@F=5 x 36 46=63C2E:?8 r9C:DE>2D H:E9 >J D:I <:5Dn’” $EC2DD3FC86C C642==65] “%92E’D E96 <:?5 @7 E9:?8 H6 6?4@F?E6C 6G6CJ 52J]”k^Am

kAmu:G6 J62CD 28@[ (:==:2> rF6==2C H2D 56A@CE65 324< E@ 9:D ?2E:G6 |6I:4@[ H9:49 96 =67E H96? 96 H2D c] w6’D ?@H 2=D@ DE2J:?8 😕 2 D96=E6C 😕 |2E2>@C@D[ H9:49 23FED qC@H?DG:==6[ %6I2D[ E@ 724:=:E2E6 G:D:ED 7C@> 9:D >@E96C 2?5 25F=E 49:=5C6? H9@ C6>2:? 😕 E96 &]$]k^Am

kAmw6 DE2CE65 2EE6?5:?8 |2DD H:E9 $EC2DD3FC86C D:I >@?E9D 28@ 2?5 D66D 9:> 2D 2 7C:6?5 >@C6 E92? 2 AC:6DE]k^Am

kAm“(96? x >6E u2E96C qC:2?[ x H2D =:<6[ ‘r@@=[ x 42? 4@>>F?:42E6 😕 t?8=:D9 H:E9 D@>6@?6 6=D6[’” rF6==2C D2:5] “w6 AC@G:56D >6 H:E9 E96 E:>6 E@ 962C >6 @FE]”k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ D24C2>6?ED DF49 2D |2DD[ 4@?76DD:@? 2?5 32AE:D>D[ :E’D E92E 4@?D@=:?8[ =:DE6?:?8 AC6D6?46 7C@> $EC2DD3FC86C 2?5 E96 @E96C y6DF:ED E92E 96=AD >:8C2?ED E96 >@DE[ 25565 $:DE6C r2C>6? #2>íC6K[ H9@ CF?D E96 r2D2 56= |:8C2?E6 D96=E6C 😕 #6J?@D2 H:E9 2?@E96C r2E9@=:4 ?F?]k^Am

kAm“%96J 3C:?8 9@A6 E@ A6@A=6[” #2>íC6K D2:5] “%96D6 >6?[ E96J 3C:?8 E96 v@DA6=[ 2 8=2?46 @7 6>A2E9J[ @7 4@>A2DD:@?]”k^Am

kAm%96 D96=E6C ?@H 9@DED 23@FE EH@ 5@K6? A6@A=6 >@DE=J 7C@> w@?5FC2D 2?5 |6I:4@] (96? E96 y6DF:ED G:D:E EH:46 2 H66<[ 2?@E96C d_ 72>:=:6D 4@>6 7@C |2DD 2?5 24E:G:E:6D 7@4FD65 @? >@E96CD 2?5 49:=5C6?[ >@DE @7 H9@> 2C6 7C@> w2:E:]k^Am

kAm“u2E96C qC:2? 😀 2 >2? H9@ @HD 9@H E@ C6=2E6 E@ 49:=5C6?] x :>28:?6 y6DFD H96? x D66 E96> CF??:?8 E@ 9F8 9:>[” #2>íC6K D2:5] “w:D 2A@DE@=2E6 😀 @7 =:DE6?:?8[ @7 D:EE:?8 5@H? E@ =:DE6?[ =@@<:?8 2E A6@A=6 DEC2:89E 😕 E96 7246[ D2J:?8 E92E E96C6 😀 2 v@5 H9@ =@G6D E96> E9C@F89 E9:D 6?4@F?E6C]”k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmpDD@4:2E65 !C6DD C6=:8:@? 4@G6C286 C646:G6D DFAA@CE E9C@F89 E96 p!’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3:E]=J^2A\EH:CQm4@==23@C2E:@?k^2m H:E9 %96 r@?G6CD2E:@? &$[ H:E9 7F?5:?8 7C@> {:==J t?5@H>6?E x?4] %96 p! 😀 D@=6=J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C E9:D 4@?E6?E]k^Am

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.