German archbishop says US-Mexico border wall recalls Berlin Wall, warns against loss of humanity

Archbishop Stefan Hesse of Hamburg compared the U.S.-Mexico border wall to the Berlin Wall during a visit to El Paso, Texas. Speaking with a reporter on August 26, 2026, the archbishop warned that such barriers risk a loss of humanity.

Hesse, who serves as the special representative for refugee issues for the German Bishops’ Conference, made these comments following a trip to assess humanitarian conditions along major migration routes. He joined Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso at Annunciation House, a shelter operated by the Diocese of El Paso for people seeking protection and those in need.