I will keep defending immigrants': new bishop, who was smuggled into the US as a teen, joins pope's resistance to Trump

"I will keep talking about people's reality, defending immigrants and fighting for fair treatment for them, Menjivar-Ayala said in an interview with the Guardian at the offices of the archdiocese of Washington, in Hyattsville, Maryland. It's been almost 40 years since Menjivar-Ayala fled El Salvador's civil war and crossed the US-Mexico border into California, but Washington's auxiliary bishop hasn't forgotten his past. He still identifies very much with migrants: every time he hears about raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he tells himself that immigrant could be me, he said."

"He made headlines last April for speaking out against the Trump administration's mass arrest, detention and deportation agenda and its highly visible operations of questionable legality that go far beyond mere immigration enforcement. Many saw his appointment as bishop just over a week ago as a clear sign from the pope. Pope Leo is also relatively new in his role as the head of the Catholic church but the Chicagoan quickly made a splash defending immigrants and is now embroiled in a battle with the White House over the US-Israel War on Iran."

"The new bishop appointed to lead West Virginia Catholics has pledged to continue speaking up for immigrants in the mould of Pope Leo, who appointed him last week amid ongoing tension between Donald Trump and the Vatican. The Right Rev Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, 55, is not planning to hide his views after being elevated from assistant bishop in Washington DC to lead the diocese that covers West Virginia the first Latino American bishop from El Salvador, who left Central America as a teenager and arrived in the US smuggled in the trunk of a car."

Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, appointed bishop to lead West Virginia Catholics, said he will continue speaking about people’s reality, defending immigrants, and seeking fair treatment. He described his identity with migrants, saying that when he hears about ICE raids he thinks an immigrant could be him. He fled El Salvador’s civil war nearly 40 years ago, crossed the US-Mexico border into California, and later became an auxiliary bishop in Washington DC before his elevation. He previously criticized the Trump administration’s mass arrest, detention, and deportation agenda and operations he described as of questionable legality. His appointment was seen as a sign from Pope Leo amid ongoing tensions involving the Vatican and the White House.

Read at www.theguardian.com