Relating to our country’s current situation on immigration, Anne Clifford, the Monsignor James A. Supple Chair in Catholic Studies, will give a presentation at the Memorial Union.

On Wednesday at 7 p.m., Clifford plans to focus on new developments concerning the document “Strangers No Longer: Together on a Journey of Hope” which was signed 15 years ago by bishops from the United States and Mexico.

However, part of the lecture will also look at the humanistic side of the immigrants’ journeys to the United States. Many immigrants from Central America and Mexico come to the United States for both work and freedom from dictatorial governments.

Using images to reflect her message, Clifford wants the members in the audience to “imagine yourself” in the shoes of these families.

“It’s not like we’re a boarder state, so I don’t think people understand…what the people are up against…Agriculture’s done so differently here, but in California it’s so different,” Clifford said. “You could not find machines to pick grapes.”

This document still has relevancy today, Clifford said, with president Trump directing the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service to crack down on immigration and to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Clifford said there are certainly those who come to the United States with criminal intentions, but most of those fleeing their countries are doing so for the safety and prosperity of their families.

“El Salvador has the highest criminal murder rate in the world. Honduras is number three,” Clifford said. 

Clifford said she found herself in tears after viewing photos of children separated from their parents. Though the tragic emotional realities persist, a major reason for Clifford to give this lecture is “… to see if people can accept an invitation to empathize.”

“If they’re are people there who have children of their own, no matter what age those kids are now, they’re going to remember…how hard this would be,” Clifford said. “Imagine yourself in this position.”