JFI Biweekly Review: June 12-23, 2023

JFI Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services References the Treatment of Migrants During General Assembly Address

Archbishop Broglio stressed in his speech that the U.S. should "enact effective and humane border management as part of a framework of comprehensive immigration reforms." The Archbishop added, “The Catholic Church is committed to the common good, we always cooperate in the administration of humanitarian aid with local, state, and federal officials, and we do this in partnership with faith communities and like-minded organizations. I know that this can put us at odds with certain groups or those who fear immigration, but our commitment is to the truth about the human condition and the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death.”

Importance of Interfaith Partnerships Emphasized and Celebrated on World Refugee Day (WRD)

World Refugee Day, observed annually on June 20, was created over twenty years ago by the United Nations General Assembly to honor refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. Commemorating the occasion, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, underscored the Catholic Church’s enduring commitment to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced persons, stating: “At a time when record-breaking numbers of people across the globe are forcibly displaced, we join in solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world who seek safety, security, and the means for a dignified life. For centuries, American Catholics have led efforts to welcome refugees to our communities, providing Christian charity and hospitality to newcomers from all walks of life. We are privileged to partake in this ministry with many others who, inspired by their own faiths, seek to provide hope to those in need.” Bishop Seitz’s full statement is available on the USCCB website.

On WRD, William Canny, executive director of the USCCB’s Department of Migration and Refugee Services, joined with leaders from HIAS and Islamic Relief USA on a panel entitled “Hope Away from Home: A Multifaith Celebration of World Refugee Day.” The Right Reverend Mariann Budde, Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Washington, moderated the event; Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Julieta Noyes provided opening remarks. A full recording of the event is available on The Episcopal Church’s YouTube channel.

New Q&A on Catholic Ministries Serving Migrants and Refugees

For over a year, a small number of vocal public officials and private organizations have repeatedly joined with media outlets in making false or misleading claims about the Catholic Church’s ministries serving migrants and refugees. These claims have primarily targeted Catholic Charities and other Church institutions providing humanitarian assistance to families and individuals who recently entered the United States at the U.S.-Mexico border.

However, the USCCB and the body of bishops have also been directly referenced in these attacks. The USCCB’s Department of Migration and Refugee Services has created a Q&A, Catholic Ministries Serving Migrants and Refugees, which is publicly available on the USCCB website. This resource addresses Catholic social teaching related to migration, the Church’s ministries serving newcomers, and the work of the USCCB in this area. You are encouraged to reference and share this resource as needed. An additional relevant resource called Human Trafficking, U.S. Policy, and the Catholic Church is also available on the USCCB website.

USCCB/MRS Policy Advisor Offers Reflections from Trip to U.S.-Mexico Border

Amidst the end of the pandemic-era Title 42 policy last month, Celina Marquez, policy advisor with USCCB/MRS, was in El Paso for several days to monitor the conditions there. She recently shared her impressions in a recent blog post on the Justice for Immigrants website.

New Explainer on the Dignity Act of 2023

In May 2023, Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) reintroduced the Dignity Act (H.R. 3599), updated from the version introduced last Congress. Original cosponsors joining the two representatives include Representatives Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY). USCCB/MRS has produced an explainer discussing the bill, which reiterates that the Dignity Act is a “welcome step in the right direction,” though the USCCB has no formal position on the bill at this time.

ROOT CAUSES WEBINAR: Make Peace, Not War: The Role of Conflict in Displacement

Conflicts rage around the world, and it is generally the most vulnerable who suffer the greatest consequences. Forced to flee from their homes to escape threats of violence, those displaced often have nowhere to turn for help. As a root cause of migration, war and other forms of conflict can leave large swathes of land uninhabitable.

This webinar will explore the ways in which war and conflict have led to significant displacement in our modern era and how the Church has advocated forthrightly in defense of those displaced. We will further explore some of the ways in which conflict can be mitigated, people can have the opportunity to return to their homes, and how support can be provided to the displaced throughout this process.

When: Wednesday, June 28, 2:00 PM Eastern

Please register and join us for this important webinar

SAVE THE DATE: 2023 National Migration Week / World Day of Migrants and Refugees

National Migration Week (NMW) will take place September 18 – 24 and climax 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 Updat e page to stay up-to-date on recent migration policy updates.

View the June 20 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

Biden Administration Extends, But Does Not Re-designate, Temporary Protected Status for Four Countries
US Government Issues 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report
DHS Issues Policy Guidance for the Issuance of EADs for Compelling Circumstances

View the June 13 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

DHS Announces Re-parole Process for Afghan Nationals
USCIS Expands Funding for Citizenship and Integration Grant Program
United States Announces Agreements With Three Countries to Establish Safe Mobility Offices for Migrants

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 20 de junio, que incluye:

La administración Biden extiende, pero no vuelve a designar, el estatus de protección temporal para cuatro países
El gobierno de EE. UU. publica el informe Trata de personas de 2023
El DHS emite una guía de políticas para la emisión de EAD en circunstancias imperiosas

Ver la Actualización de Migración del CMS del 13 de junio, que incluye:

DHS anuncia proceso de nueva libertad condicional para ciudadanos afganos
USCIS Amplía el Financiamiento para el Programa de Becas de Ciudadanía e Integración
Estados Unidos anuncia acuerdos con tres países para establecer Oficinas de Movilidad Segura para Migrantes

Migration-Related Stories, Op-Eds and Interviews by Catholic Bishops, Arch/Dioceses and Catholic Agency Executives

Mario Russell, Executive Director, Center for Migration Studies of New York on World Refugee Day (June 20, 2023): Statement on World Refugee Day

Anna Gallagher, Executive Director, CLINIC: TPS Extensions Are a Welcome but Incomplete Step

International Catholic Migration Commission President Calls for Social Justice to Drive Global Sustainable Development at the International Labour Conference

Notable New Publications, Reports, Films, Articles, Etc.

Congressional Research Service: Immigration 101: Executive Branch Agencies Involved with Immigration

This report provides a brief overview of the agencies involved in U.S. immigration services and enforcement, and the roles they play.

Refugee Processing Center: Refugee Admissions Report as of May 31, 2023

This report provides information on all refugee admissions to the United States for the current fiscal year thus far, as broken down both by country of chargeability and by month of admission.

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA): High-Stakes Asylum: How Long an Asylum Case Takes and How We Can Do Better

AILA released a first-of-its-kind report on asylum timelines based on a survey of over 300 asylum attorneys about how much time it takes to prepare an asylum application, and what complications add significant time. High-Stakes Asylum also includes recommendations on how to inject efficiency into the existing asylum process and ensure the integrity of a system that has life and death consequences.

National Immigration Forum: Eliminating the Naturalization Backlog

This report provides a general overview and analysis of USCIS naturalization backlogs looking at historic trends, contributing factors, and staffing levels, as well as examining USCIS’s record on responding to past backlogs. It concludes by providing proposals to make the processing of naturalization applications more efficient and setting a goal to timely reduce and eliminate the naturalization backlog.

Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources

National Partnership for New Americans Webinar: Immigrant Communities on the Frontlines of Climate Disasters, June 26, 2023 at 1 PM Central. As climate change accelerates, extreme weather events like storms, floods, and fires are becoming more frequent and intense. Immigrants and refugees are among the communities hit first and worst by climate disasters in the U.S. and are often left behind in response and recovery efforts. In this webinar, our Climate Justice Collaborative and members from across the country will share how immigrant justice organizations have been responding to extreme weather in a way that keeps our communities safe, builds power, and fights for racial and economic justice in our disaster response policies. Please join us.

JustFaith Ministries Webinar: Torture in Our Name: The Moral Call to End Solitary Confinement, June 29, 2023 at 7 PM Eastern. Discover the critical role of torture survivors and their faith allies in successful abolition campaigns within U.S. prisons and jails. This engaging multimedia presentation will inspire you to take action, equipping you with practical tools for community advocacy. Join this opportunity to gain valuable insights and be part of the movement towards ending solitary confinement.

Birmingham (AL) Migrant Transit Project Volunteer Opportunity. This summer, migrants are being released from detention centers across the south and brought to Birmingham to travel to their destinations. We need volunteers to help us give them a warm welcome during their brief visit to Alabama! For each group, we provide hot meals, clothing, hygiene items, and travel assistance. Groups usually arrive on Wednesdays, and our volunteer events run from 10 AM to 3 PM. If you would like to help with upcoming releases, please fill out our volunteer form .

Refugee Council USA Advocacy & Communications Intern (Fall 2023) Recruitment. Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), is an association with 36 nongovernmental organizations that serve and advocate for forcibly displaced people. Our members include the 10 resettlement agencies and other leading advocacy and service organizations. As a national coalition, RCUSA plays a crucial role in promoting safety, security, human rights, and dignity for refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other forcibly displaced people in the U.S. RCUSA is looking for a highly motivated and team-oriented Advocacy & Communications Intern for the Fall 2023 term. The intern will work on RCUSA's annual report on Resettled Refugees Arrivals, corresponding social media toolkits, and other tasks as assigned. This position is part-time, paid, and hybrid, but at least 2-4 hours per week will be spent in-person at RCUSA's office in downtown Washington, DC. This is a 10-week position, starting Sept. 11 and ending Nov. 10, 2023. Apply online.

In solidarity,

Tony Cube

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