On Saturday, January 20, Fordham University held a dialogue that was open to the public called “The Mayor’s Office and The Church: NYC Migrant State of Emergency.” Sister Norma Pimentel, MJ, a prominent immigrant advocate discussed the current state of affairs with Anne Williams-Isom, NYC deputy mayor for Health & Human Services. Approximately 50 people attended the University’s Rose Hill campus in the Bronx. 

Organizers said the primary goal of the collaborative conversation was to engage in a “compassionate and reflective dialogue, designed to deepen the understanding of the formidable challenges faced by incoming migrants and residents alike.” It spotlighted the pivotal roles played by New York City’s communities and its religious and nonprofit organizations in offering critical support to all those in need.   

“Clearly, a network of friends and collaborators is key to success [for immigrants],” Sister Pimentel noted. “And we cannot leave God out. It is so important to make sure that God is at the center of who we are and what we do.” She said that when she wakes up each morning, she thanks God for that day and asks Him, “What do You need me to do?”  

Williams-Isom addressed the overall environment in New York City, “That should be the message: there are people in need; what can I do to help?” … to show people how you can deal with something with humanity…There’s not a political will to solve this problem; it is not because of a lack of solutions.” She mentioned critics’ comments on Mayor Eric Adams’s verbal missteps, but noted there should also be attention to his determination from the start, in 2022, to help asylum seekers amid the growing crisis, when Latin American immigrants were bussed to New York City from Texas.   

The dialogue was moderated by Gemma Solimene, Fordham University professor of law and immigration specialist. It explored and encouraged potential strategies for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders, aiming to address “this pressing humanitarian issue effectively.”  

“I think that we are here for only one reason, and that’s not to lose sight of who these families are – what they’ve been through; their stories are so sad,” Sister Norma said during the two-hour event, adding, “Like the children that I encounter at the detention facility (in Texas), crying and saying, ‘Sácame de aquí. (Get me out of here).’ And the nun spoke of desperate mothers willing to have their children go with U.S. immigration officials without them.       

Sister Norma noted there have been many instances of critics having a change of heart after she invites them and they visit her immigrant respite center in Texas, where they witness first-hand the desperation and dire need among asylum seekers, many of whom are robbed and abused by the Mexican cartels as they approach the point of entry.    

Consensus developed among the participants to help 170,000 asylum seekers and included recommendations, such as New York City, the Church, interfaith groups, and community organizations looking for ways to increase and improve collaboration, with continued wise use of funds; “radical faith” always being a key factor in emergencies; advocating for expediting the work-permit process, so that asylum seekers can be better prepared to obtain housing; and promoting intercity cooperation. 

The lead organizer was Christie de la Gándara, Ph.D, Fordham University, a visiting associate professor of practical theology and religious education. De la Gándara and Solimene expressed gratitude to the deputy mayor and the nun for accepting the invitation to the important dialogue gathering.  

Sister Norma is a renowned Mexican-American nun of the Missionaries of Jesus and the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. Her dedication to refugees and immigrants in the United States, acknowledged by Pope Francis and others, saw her included on Time’s prestigious list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.  

Williams-Isom was formerly the chief executive officer of the Harlem Children’s Zone, a nonprofit devoted to breaking the cycle of generational poverty in Central Harlem. She is a Fordham University alumna and a native of Queens.