The Juan Neumann Center, Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn

The Juan Neumann Center, sponsored by the Baltimore Province and the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, is well known in this New York area. At its beginnings, the name, Juan Neumann Center, was chosen because 98% of immigrants seeking accompaniment and legal aid were Hispanics. The patronage of St. John Neumann is very appropriate as he came to the United States in 1833, spoke 11 languages, and ministered to the growing Catholic immigrant population in the New World. He later became the archbishop of Philadelphia. He was beatified during the Second Vatican Council on October 13, 1963 and canonized on June 19, 1977.  At his canonization, Pope Saint Paul VI, said of this Redemptorist Saint: “He was close to the sick, he loved to be with the poor, he was a friend of sinners, and now he is the glory of all emigrants”.    

For 130 years, the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help has served and is recognized for its service to generations of immigrants of the past, including Irish, Germans, and Norwegians. Today, although mainly Hispanic, the demographic percentage reality has changed with a growing number of other nationalities, for example, Bangladeshi, Russians, Africans, Caribbean Islanders, and more recently, Chinese speakers.

The Juan Neumann Center was first formally established by Fr. Ruskin Piedra, C.Ss.R., in 2003.  The main objective of the Center is to assist immigrants to obtain lawful status, avoid deportation, or help achieve family unity and other legal protections and benefits. As a legal, government-approved entity, the Center cannot and never intended to favor one religion over another, has never refused a blessing request, and always assures our clients that the Lord loves and watches over them.

The Juan Neumann Center’s underlying motive is to bring all to God and God’s family on earth by showing our care and concern for the immediate needs of our immigrant brothers and sisters. In no way is the material gain for the office a priority, as is, unfortunately, the reality of other legal representatives.

Over the years, the Center has helped hundreds of migrants from diverse continents and document needs. The walls and ambient of the office are decorated with images of the Blessed Virgin Mary in accord with the patroness of the countries of origin of most of our immigrants.

Father Ruskin Piedra, C.Ss.R., is aided by other Redemptorist confreres: Brother Augustus J. Riviere, C.Ss.R., Father Francis Skelly, C.Ss.R., and Father Karl Esker, C.Ss.R. The office also has a team of professional immigration lawyers, agents, and volunteers.

One of the services offered by the Center is the process of obtaining American citizenship, always respectfully in response to the immigrant’s petition. In a prelude to celebrating Independence Day, July 4th, at the main Hispanic Eucharistic celebration, a group of immigrants who have already succeeded in obtaining American citizenship and others who are in the last stages, were given special recognition and a blessing by Fr. Ruskin Piedra, C.Ss.R.

The vision of the Immigration Center, John Neumann, is that which is reflected in our Constitutions and Statutes, that is,

…the Congregation’s mandate to evangelize the poor is directed to the liberation and salvation of the whole human person. The members have the duty of preaching the Gospel explicitly and of showing solidarity with the poor by promoting their fundamental rights to justice and freedom. The means employed must be effective and at the same time, consistent with the Gospel. (Constitution 5)

The thinking of the Church, as projected by Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has often prioritized the defense of immigrants, expressing that few on the periphery are in greater need of the Church’s care and concern than undocumented immigrants.

We can ask why our immigrants would seek American citizenship while being very much identified and enamored of their own countries, customs, and nationalities.

In response to this question, some authors point out what they consider several benefits to obtaining this citizenship, among them being:

1. Legal Status and Security: Becoming a U.S. citizen provides a sense of security and protection from deportation. As a citizen, our migrant brothers and sisters have the right to live and work in the United States permanently, and their status is less vulnerable to changes in immigration policies.

2. Right to Vote: U.S. citizens have the right to participate in federal, state, and local elections. By becoming a citizen, immigrants can directly impact the democratic process, helping to shape the policies and leadership of their communities.

3. Travel Benefits: U.S. citizens can travel with a U.S. passport, providing greater ease of travel and access to consular services abroad. Additionally, some countries have visa waivers or special entry privileges for U.S. citizens, making international travel, including to their native countries, more convenient.  Many immigrants have been impeded for many years from reuniting with their families and loved ones in their native country because of their undocumented status.

4. Family Reunification: Citizenship can facilitate the reunification of families. As U.S. citizens, our migrants can petition for certain family members to immigrate to the United States, including spouses, children, parents, and siblings, potentially reducing the time and bureaucratic hurdles involved in the immigration process.

5. Employment Opportunities: Citizenship may open additional job opportunities and career prospects. Some employers prefer U.S. citizens due to legal requirements or security clearances. Certain government positions and roles in the military are often restricted to U.S. citizens as well.
 

6. Social Benefits: As citizens, our migrants gain access to a range of social benefits and entitlements, including eligibility for federal student aid, scholarships, and government-sponsored healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Through various social welfare programs, our migrants may also have a stronger safety net in times of financial hardship.

7. Civic Engagement and Rights: U.S. citizens can actively engage in civic activities, such as serving on juries or running for public office. They also enjoy constitutional rights and protections, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, which are fundamental to American democracy.

Fr. Piedra’s thought is notable when he hears the argument “We can’t let everyone in!”.  His response is always, “Well, how about treating them as children of God”?