The Institute for Latin American and Iberian Studies at Catholic University of America and Barry University will hold an online moderated panel about Immigrant Family Separation on April 12th at 6:30 EST.

The panel was inspired by the recent visit of the Angels Unawares statue to Miami. It will discuss and explore the impact of family separation on immigrant communities. The issue will be examined through the lens of Operation Pedro Pan, the airlift of Cuban children to the United States from 1960 to 1962, as well as present-day immigrant families facing separation as they attempt to enter the United States.

“What can we learn from the experiences of Operation Pedro Pan alumni about the challenges facing children who have been separated from their families? How can the Catholic community and the Church best serve the needs of immigrant children today?” are the questions that will permeate the discussion.

The panel will have four panelists. Dr. Sandra Barrueco is a professor of psychology  at the CatholicU and the director of ILAIS; Emilio Cueto, Esquire, one of the first children brought to the U.S. as part of Operation Pedro Pan; Carmen Valdivia, past president of Pedro Pan Group, Inc. and CEO of the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora; and Martha Luz Vallejo, LCSW, the director of the Traumatologists Network, Inc. and adjunct faculty at the Barry University. 

Giselle Elgarresta Rios, D.M.A, professor of music and director of the Institute for Immigration Studies at Barry University will moderate the panel. The event will have a host, Dr. Julia G. Young, associate professor of History at The Catholic University of America.

To register, please, click here. Upon registering, you will receive a URL to access the virtual event.

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The Angels Unawares is a bronze sculpture by Timothy Schmalz installed in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican since September 29, 2019, the 105th World Migrant and Refugee Day.

On the 2020 celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees — the sculpture was formally unveiled at a temporary location on campus before a small group, which included members of the Catholic University community who have immigrated to the United States, or whose families immigrated here.

Viewed throughout the world via a livestream, the unveiling ceremony featured a blessing from Archbishop Gregory and remarks from President Garvey; Schmalz; Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America; Sandra Barrueco, Ph.D., director of Latin American and Latino Studies at Catholic University; and junior Brayan Hernandez.

To read more about it, click here.