A day to understand and accompany migration through faith and social commitment

For several years now, the Assumption family present in Spain — RA Religious, PSA Little Sisters and AA Augustinians (lay people and religious) — has gathered on the last Saturday of February to hold a day of reflection - formation on issues present in our society.

In previous years, the themes addressed were:

1. Migration in Spain, current overview. 2023
2. How to educate to build peace in a divided and violent world. 2024
3. European Pact on Migration and Asylum and the position of Spain and the Spanish Church. 2025

This year our reflection focused on “The reality of the CIE in Spain” and the “Process of accompanying migrants.”, presented by Iván Lendrino Tejerina, coordinator of the CIE program at the Jesuit Migrant Service SJM, and Maryory Cortez who works in the Social Sector of the Society of Jesus. Both belong to the Jesuit NGO Pueblos Unidos.

Although Spain is the European country with the most open migrant reception system, Iván’s presentation clearly highlighted the shortcomings and lack of respect for human rights represented by the CIE (Foreigner Detention Centers), through the following key points:

• Migration governance framework in Spain where two systems coexist: a social reception/inclusion system (asylum, protection) and a police control system, within which the CIE are included.
• What the CIE are and how they function: they are public centers under the Ministry of the Interior, formally “non-penitentiary,” but experienced in practice as prison-like environments, since, following police raids targeting undocumented migrants, the police managing them may detain individuals for up to sixty days before deportation or release. There are currently seven CIE in Spain.
• The violation of fundamental rights, institutional violence, legal labyrinth and structural problems are part of everyday reality.
• Iván shared data from the annual SJM reports, as well as concrete testimonies from migrants and volunteers, the chaplaincies of the CIE and their action, the “Pueblos Unidos” model, integration pathways and the announced regularization process.
• Both Iván and Maryory, together with the group work and shared reflections, helped us gain a clear understanding of the situation that the CIE represent within the drama of migration.

Each year we observe that the meeting becomes more established and gains greater impact as it becomes better known. The migration delegate of the Archdiocese of Madrid participated for the second time and encourages us to make it known beyond the Assumption family. Members of other congregations working in this sector also attended.

Attendance exceeded fifty people, and we experienced the great satisfaction of strong participation from RA lay members and religious, with representation from all schools and communities in Spain except three. Communities from other continents of our Assumption family also participate.

We concluded the day on the 28th with a fraternal Eucharist and a very positive evaluation. The day was very complete and we thank the sisters of Vallecas for their hospitality, Merce for enabling the online transmission, and the inter-Assumption coordinating team together with the JPICS teams of the three congregations for their work in preparing the gatherings.

On Sunday, March 1, the RA continued their reflection with a presentation on the work that Véronique presented during the JPICS session in India on “The Social Project of Marie Eugenia and the beginnings of the Laudato Sí spirit.” It was a moment of grace and rediscovery of the prophetic vision that Marie Eugenia had for her time. We ended the gatherings by sharing what some communities and schools are doing in this field of JPICS- peripheries.

We hope to continue enjoying each year these fraternal encounters that enrich us and help strengthen our bonds as the Assumption family for the good of our brothers.