Archbishop Stefan Hesse compares US-Mexico border wall to Berlin Wall

Archbishop Stefan Hesse of Hamburg, the special representative for refugee issues for the German Bishops’ Conference, has compared the fortifications at the US-Mexico border to the Berlin Wall. During a weeklong solidarity visit from August 20 to 27, Hesse observed the razor wire and massive barriers dividing El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

Hesse described the border situation as disturbing, noting that the fortifications hermetically separate two cities that were once deeply connected. He warned that treating migration strictly as a security threat can lead to a loss of human dignity and a decline in the respect for human rights and the rule of law.

During his trip, Hesse met with local church leaders, including El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz, as well as aid workers and migrants. He noted that Mexico, once primarily a country of origin and transit, has become a destination country for migrants due to restrictive US policies and increasing deportations. Hesse also highlighted the humanitarian role of the Catholic Church, which operates approximately 80 percent of the migrant shelters in the region.