JFI Biweekly Review: May 29 - June 9, 2023 JFI Colleagues, Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.  REMINDER: World Refuge Day 2023 World Refugee Day (WRD), celebrated annually on June 20th, draws global attention to the plight of millions of refugees—individuals forcibly displaced from their homes due to various forms of conflict, violence, or persecution. The Catholic Church champions a clear message of compassion and solidarity, which is rooted in its call to “welcome the stranger.” Our World Refugee Day 2023 resource provides background information on refugees and refugee resettlement, prayer resources, and suggestions on what you can do in your local communities to help these vulnerable populations. Please send information about your WRD events and celebrations to [email protected] 2023 National Migration Week/World Day of Migrants and Refugees National Migration Week will take place September 18 – 24 and concludes with the Vatican sponsored World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) on September 24. This year’s theme, “Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay,” shines a light on the root causes that drive migration. In preparation for this celebration, please take an opportunity to read Pope Francis’ WDMR message. Be sure to check out the Justice for Immigrant’s NMW page and toolkit, where we expand on the theme and suggest possible ways for your community to get involved.   Policy Update / Actualización de Política We are thankful to the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) for its weekly Migration Update. Please visit their bilingual Migration Update page to stay up-to-date on recent migration policy updates. View the May 31 CMS Migration Update, which includes: Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill Catches Both Parties By Surprise DHS Announces Department-wide Policy On the Use of Body Worn Cameras United States Announces Additional Aid for Sudan and Neighboring Countries Amid Refugee Crisis Agradecemos al Centro de Estudios de Migración de Nueva York (CMS por sus siglas en inglés) por su Actualización de Migración semanal. Visite su página bilingüe de Actualización de Migración para mantenerse al día sobre las actualizaciones recientes de la política de migración. Ver la Actualización de Migración del CMS del 31 de mayo, que incluye: Un proyecto de ley bipartidista de reforma migratoria toma por sorpresa a ambos partidos politicos El DHS anuncia una política para todo el departamento sobre el uso de cámaras corporals Estados Unidos anuncia ayuda adicional para Sudán y los países vecinos en medio de la crisis de refugiados  Migration-Related Stories, Op-Eds and Interviews by Catholic Bishops, Arch/Dioceses and Catholic Agency Executives The Good Newsroom - Archdiocese of New York’s Digital News Platform: Cardinal Dolan on Welcoming Migrants, ‘We Listen to Jesus More Than the Talk Shows’ Notable New Publications, Reports, Films, Articles, Podcasts, Etc. Center for Migration Studies of New York: The US Immigration Courts, Dumping Ground for the Nation’s Systemic Immigration Failures: The Causes, Composition, and Politically Difficult Solutions to the Court Backlog The US immigration court system seeks to “fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly administer and interpret US immigration laws.” It represents the first exposure of many immigrants to due process and the rule of law in the United States, and occupies an integral role in the larger US immigration system. Yet it labors under a massive backlog of pending cases that undermines its core goals and objectives. The backlog reached 1.87 million cases in the first quarter of FY 2023. This paper attributes the backlog to systemic failures in the broader immigration system that negatively affect the immigration courts. U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics: Labor Force Characteristics of Foreign-born Workers Newly released data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows that the share of foreign-born workers in the U.S. labor force reached a record high in 2022. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Report: Protection and Assistance to Afghan Refugees in Brazil The arrival of Afghan refugees has mobilized an important expansion of reception facilities aimed at refugees and migrants in the state of São Paulo. Learn about some of the challenges these Afghan refugees face in Brazil. World Bank: World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies Migration is a development challenge. About 184 million people—2.3 percent of the world’s population—live outside of their country of nationality. Almost half of them are in low- and middle-income countries. But what lies ahead? As the world struggles to cope with global economic imbalances, diverging demographic trends, and climate change, migration will become a necessity in the decades to come for countries at all levels of income. If managed well, migration can be a force for prosperity and can help achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. World Development Report 2023 proposes an integrated framework to maximize the development impacts of cross-border movements on both destination and origin countries and on migrants and refugees themselves. The framework it offers, drawn from labor economics and international law, rests on a “match and motive” matrix that focuses on two factors: how closely migrants’ skills and attributes match the needs of destination countries and what motives underlie their movements. This approach enables policy makers to distinguish between different types of movements and to design migration policies for each. International cooperation will be critical to the effective management of migration. Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources Franciscan Action Network Webinar on Ukraine, Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 1 PM Eastern. We will explore the narratives about the war as well as opportunities for diplomacy. In this webinar, we'll consider: What common narratives are influencing this war? How have the key stakeholders generated narratives that have distorted the truth, and how do we get closer to the truth? What narrative(s) will facilitate an end to the war and generate a more just peace? We will also explore opportunities for diplomatic negotiations and how we can support such efforts. Join us. Ignatian Solidarity Network Webinar: Radical Listening: A Radical Approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Racial Justice, June 15, 2023 at 3:30 PM Eastern. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” prophesied Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This call to awareness notes the importance of advancing social justice writ large and writ small even in the one-to-one interpersonal context. This unique workshop examines the oft-unheard-of communication skill of engaged listening. We hope you can participate in our conversation. Beatitudes Center Virtual Seminar: Following Jesus in a time of Climate Catastrophe, June 17, 2023 at 11 AM Pacific. Every day we see the ravages of climate chaos all around us in massive rain storms and flooding, blizzards, tornadoes, wildfires, droughts, and the hottest years ever. How do we follow the nonviolent Jesus and his Beatitude way of life, and serve creation, in this time of catastrophic climate change? This webinar will help us reconsider the reality of climate catastrophe. Please register and join us. U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) and the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd (NAC) Webinar: Forced Migration & Human Trafficking, June 14, 2023 at 2 PM Eastern. An estimated 70% of people trafficked in the U.S. each year are immigrants. Tune into this virtual briefing to learn more about the connection between forced migration and human trafficking. Hear from Cristian Eduardo, an advocate and immigrant survivor of trafficking, as well as Catholic Sisters who accompany migrants. In Solidarity, Tony Cube Stay Connected Visit the JFI website to learn about us, read policy recommendations and letters to Congress, find materials for your parish, get advocacy resources, access previously recorded webinars, and more! Send us an email to get connected.     USCCB | 3211 Fourth Street NE, Washington, DC 20017 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!