Giving immigrants a face by sharing stories

Sister Norma Pimentel of the Missionaries of Jesus shared her experiences working with refugees in the Rio Grande Valley during the Catholic Charities of Baltimore annual social justice symposium on Oct. 21. Speaking at the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, she delivered a presentation titled From Stranger to Neighbor: An Immigration Call to Action.

Pimentel described her early work helping immigrants arrive near Brownsville, Texas, and recounted being arrested while defending immigrants outside a congressman's office. She noted that the arrest, which occurred so her superior could leave, led her to realize her calling to defend humanity and speak out against injustice.

During her talk, she also discussed visiting unaccompanied children in detention facilities. These children had traveled with relatives or neighbors to reach their parents in the United States but were separated to protect them from human trafficking and other risks.