The next is a transcript of an interview with Sister Norma Pimentel, the chief director of the Catholic Charities of Rio Grande Valley, that aired Sunday, April 17, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: The variety of migrants crossing the US southern border has already hit a document in March, and we aren't even at peak migration season. We need to go now to Sister Norma Pimentel, the chief director of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. Good morning to you, Sister. Blissful Easter.
SISTER NORMA PIMENTEL: Good morning to you, too.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We all know all of those numbers are anticipated to climb within the coming weeks after a few of these well being restrictions are peeled again on the border. Are you ready for what's to return?
SISTER PIMENTEL: I- most positively, you understand, what is going on is has occurred for some time already. So a few years, numbers have elevated. However I am not centered on- on Title 42 for, say, a extra centered making certain that these households who're at our border that I see every day are- are who face violence, face persecution, can have entry to safety and- and to a- a humane therapy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, you wrote in an op-ed final yr you made an attraction for president Biden to return down personally to see a few of what you might be describing. He hasn't been there but. What influence do you assume a private expertise would have?
SISTER PIMENTEL: I positively imagine that somebody- all people ought to come to the border in order that they have- can have a possibility to see our group and the folks we serve. If they will get a- a seat for themselves and meet households. I feel that- that impacts anyone's means of what is going on. And so I positively encourage president Biden's to return and see and to- and to have the ability to perceive extra carefully what a household that's struggling on the border, how he should resolve how- find out how to proceed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, you've got spoken out as nicely about one thing referred to as the migrant safety protocols, the "Stay in Mexico" coverage that I do know the Supreme Courtroom is about to take up later this month. And this could enable for asylum seekers who're making an attempt to get into america to have to remain on the Mexican facet of the border whereas they undergo U.S. processing. You stated it's immoral- immoral and abhorrent to discourage people who find themselves legally and peacefully in search of security in america by intentionally exposing them to the very perils that they're hoping to flee. Are you able to inform us what are these circumstances and what protected alternate options are there?
SISTER PIMENTEL: I go to the border on the Mexican facet nearly every day, and what I see is households struggling due to the very fact that there's a lot of abuse for that- to them. And the circumstances are horrible and really harmful. The youngsters being uncovered to- to being kidnapped, to be snatched, to be harm. And so it isn't proper for us to do that. I feel that somebody who faces violence fears for his or her lives, for his or her youngsters's. There must be a means to- to entry safety. And that is one thing that we as a nation can provide to them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you want to see them housed on the U.S. facet of the border quite than the Mexican facet?
SISTER PIMENTEL: I imagine that we as a rustic can discover methods to have the ability to provide safety. That could possibly be the U.S. facet. Most positively. They're asking for cover they usually're fearing for his or her lives. There must be a means to have the ability to entry that safety. And- and there is not something now. And so no matter that reply is, I feel, is one thing that we are able to work to make it occur, as a result of these households are in nice hazard.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We're nonetheless within the midst of this public well being disaster. And I do know the federal authorities has relied quite a bit on organizations like yours to assist perform COVID assessments for these migrants who do cross the border and lately have began to supply them vaccines as nicely. How does somebody who's undocumented even show that they're vaccinated? How do you reassure American folks at residence that there is not a well being danger?
SISTER PIMENTEL: As a result of we on the border are ensuring that anybody that enters the nation is- is being supplied that security, that- that- that care, in order that if they're uncovered to the virus, they will get- be remoted they usually can obtain that care in order that they do not enter our nation and unfold the virus wherever else. And so I feel that my- the partnership that I've right here within the Rio Grande Valley with our our regulation enforcement, our- our authorities, town authorities in McAllen and the Border Patrol, we work collectively to ensure that we tackle this appropriately. And there may be not that- that fear- there shouldn't be that concern for- for what's a folks which are coming into our nation. I feel that- that we should assist us perceive in a different way what the border is like. You come and go to and see for your self and- and perceive our group and the way we work and in addition how the folks we serve.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know you are not a political individual. You're a humanitarian. However the work Catholic Charities does with youngsters particularly who've crossed the border received some sharp criticism lately from a conspiracy theorist on this nation, Alex Jones. And I perceive Pope Francis heard about what was taking place in his criticism of you. And I need to share with our viewers his private message to you. He stated in a video, the migrants should be acquired, they should be protected, they should be accompanied, they usually should be built-in. 4 issues: obtain, defend, accompany, combine. What did that non-public message imply to you?
SISTER PIMENTEL: It reaffirmed the truth that we as a rustic will need to have that coronary heart to welcome these which are concern for his or her lives and to supply them safety, provide them a humanitarian response that cares for humanity and for particularly these that- who're most weak and fragile and hurting at our border.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, Sister, thanks for leaving us on that observe this Easter. We'll be proper again.