Sister Therese Bangert, SCL, stood alone before the Kansas House Federal and State Affairs Committee in February 2025, speaking against a resolution urging Governor Laura Kelly to support President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.
Sister Therese was the only outside speaker at the hearing. Reflecting the SCL Directional Statement, calling for care of the marginalized, she expressed concern that the deportation efforts by the state of Kansas will include immigrants who live peacefully in the state but lack the proper work permits.
“I find the rhetoric troubling when speaking about our sisters and brothers who are immigrants,” Sister Therese stated, noting that those targeted by the resolution are Kansans in every way except for possession of U.S. immigration documents.
After being denied the opportunity to speak at the January Senate Committee hearing, Sister Therese persisted and delivered her testimony to the House Committee in February. By highlighting the real people behind immigration statistics and emphasizing their contributions to Kansas communities, she brought a perspective of compassion and human dignity to a debate otherwise dominated by legal and enforcement concerns.
Sister Therese’s testimony exemplifies the SCL mission at work. By speaking on behalf of immigrants, she is responding to the cry of the poor. This work connects to a broader understanding of Integral Ecology that recognizes the interdependence of social justice and environmental concerns, as articulated by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’.
While the resolution is expected to pass in the Kansas House, our mission compels us to advocate for immigration policies that preserve family unity, recognize the dignity of labor, and acknowledge the complex realities that drive migration. This commitment remains central to the SCL Vincentian heritage and ongoing work in Kansas and beyond.