The political question of immigration is complex, and of its nature subject to different policy conclusi ons, even by faithful Catholics. The Catholic Church recognizes the importance of every nations' sovereignty and its right, within the demands of justice, to regulate the passage of people into its borders. Nevertheless, the Gospel demands that every person, whether or not they are legally documented, be treated with the dignity which is theirs, and with compassion for their well-being. As they examine their political views and their personal behavior, then, Catholics will strive to ensure that immigrants, and particularly political and economic refugees, are treated with justice and respect, and are welcomed to their country to the maximum extent possible.
