El Salvador-born immigration advocate named West Virginia bishop after opposing Trump's immigration policies
A new Catholic bishop for West Virginia has been appointed from Washington, D.C., bringing a strong record of immigrant advocacy and a personal history shaped by fleeing civil war in El Salvador.
Pope Leo XIV announced Friday that the Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar-Ayala will become the next leader of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which covers all of West Virginia. The 55-year-old currently serves as an auxiliary bishop in Washington, D.C., and has been widely recognized for his ministry to immigrant communities.
Menjivar-Ayala fled El Salvador in the late 1980s during its civil war and entered the United States in 1990. He later received humanitarian protection, became a visa holder as a religious worker, and was granted U.S. citizenship about 20 years ago.
Reflecting on his background, he has said he feels a deep connection to migrants facing deportation or enforcement actions, noting in a past interview that such circumstances “could have been me.”
In his new role, Menjivar-Ayala will oversee about 61,000 Catholics across 92 parishes in West Virginia, a largely rural and predominantly white state with a small Latino population. The diocese also includes one of the country’s less diverse Catholic communities.
He succeeds Bishop Mark Brennan, 79, who has led the diocese since 2019. Brennan previously stepped into the role following a leadership scandal involving a former bishop.
In his remarks following the appointment, Menjivar-Ayala emphasized listening and service rather than policy, saying he hopes to focus on those “on the margins” of society, including workers and immigrants. He also acknowledged the economic struggles faced by many residents in West Virginia, one of the poorest states in the country.
During his time in Washington, he became known for advocating on behalf of immigrants and criticizing federal immigration enforcement policies, arguing that many operations have gone beyond traditional enforcement. Church leaders have consistently called for humane treatment of migrants while also recognizing a country’s right to secure its borders.
Church officials praised his appointment, highlighting his work with Hispanic and immigrant communities and his focus on social justice. His installation is scheduled for July 2.
Separately, another Latin America-born priest was also appointed to lead a U.S. diocese, reflecting a broader trend of foreign-born clergy taking on leadership roles amid declining domestic vocations in the United States.
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