World Refugee Day 2019 Marks Largest Migratory Crisis Since WWII

Yesterday was World Refugee Day, a day to bring light to the world's refugee crisis, as well as what organizations, many of them Catholic, are doing to help displaced persons around the globe. The United States Bishops said that this is the largest migratory crisis since WWII, with over 70 million displaced persons worldwide. According to the U.N., a displaced person is anyone who was displaced from their home "as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations." At the same time, the cap for refugee resettlement was set at an all-time low of 30,000 refugees for the current fiscal year.

In a statement released yesterday, the USCCB called for mercy for these persons. "We have seen the images of the refugee crisis, and World Refugee Day calls attention to the critical need to assist our refugee brothers and sisters and make them feel a sense of welcome," said Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration. "It is imperative for us to highlight the contributions refugees make in our communities." 

Read more about World Refugee Day in this Catholic News Agency article.