The CRISIS Survey: The Catholic Church's Work with Immigrants in the United States in a Period of Crisis

On July 14, 2021, the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) hosted a webinar and discussion on its report, The CRISIS Survey: The Catholic Church’s Work with Immigrants in the United States in a Period of Crisis.

CMS administered the Catholic Refugee and Immigrant Service Integration Survey (the “CRISIS Survey”) from December 14, 2020 through February 5, 2021. This survey explored the work of Catholic institutions during the Trump administration and the COVID-19 pandemic. The CRISIS Survey documents the reach, diversity, and productivity of Catholic institutions that worked with immigrants and refugees during a pandemic which particularly devastated their communities and an administration whose policies and rhetoric made their work far more difficult.

The report’s authors – Donald Kerwin, Executive Director of CMS, and Daniela Alulema, Director of Programs of CMS – shared key findings and recommendations. The webinar also included guest remarks and reflections on the survey and its findings from Monica Ruiz-Caraballo, Executive Director of Casa San Jose, and Alfonso Lara, Director of Centro San Juan Diego Archdiocese of Denver.