In a pastoral letter concerning migration from the Catholic bishops of Mexico and the United States, the bishops put forth the following proposition, “All persons have the right to find in their own countries the economic, political, and social opportunities to live in dignity and achieve a full life through the use of their God-given gifts. In this context, work that provides a just, living wage is a basic human need.”

In order to address the many challenges presented by human migration more developed nations will ultimately need to address economic inequality between nations. 

Pope John Paul II, in his 1995 message for World Migration Day, noted that undocumented immigrants are often used by wealthy nations as a source of labor. But ultimately, said the pope, elimination of global underdevelopment will be the antidote to illegal immigration.

Mennonite and Catholic churches may still observe differences on matters of doctrine and theology, but on the issue of immigration, there are many points of agreement between them. Both churches have observed that in order to address the many challenges presented by human migration more developed nations will ultimately need to address economic inequality between nations. According to the Catholic bishops, such economic inequality is a “global disorder.” According to Mennonite Church USA, the United States, in particular, controls more material resources than any other country, so people will continue to immigrate to it in search of economic and political stability. In a recent delegate resolution, the church further challenged itself to consider “both the promise and the peril” of living as Christians in such a wealthy and powerful nation.

What the Mennonite and Catholic churches implicitly recognize is that if countries like Mexico account for a significant portion of immigrants entering the United States, there is good reason for it. Many rural and indigenous communities in Mexico can no longer survive based on the agricultural activity that used to sustain their livelihoods. In the Mountain region of Guerrero, for example, most families have at least one member migrate – either internally or externally.

The creation of employment opportunities and more stable economic systems in developing countries would help mitigate the incentive for migrants to leave home. Although church organizations like Mennonite Central Committee and Catholic Relief Services can create and implement such projects, the United States government could also take a more active role in the economic development of its neighbors.

President Bush recently proposed substantial new grants of U.S. aid to Mexico (increasing annual U.S. contributions from $40 million to about $1.4 billion) but almost all of it will be in the form of military aid - ostensibly used to combat drug trafficking and organized crime. Only long-term efforts that seek to adjust the economic inequalities between the two regions will truly address the security concerns of both countries as well as the individuals migrating between them.