JFI Week in Review 2/17/20-2/21/20

Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

President Trump's Latest Travel Ban

On January 31, 2020, the President Trump issued Proclamation 9983 adding six countries to an already existing list of countries whose nationals are subject to certain visa restrictions, under Proclamation 9645, which the President issued on September 24, 2017. Proclamation 9983 states the U.S. will not grant immigrant visas for people from Burma/Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, and Nigeria. It will suspend Sudan and Tanzania from the Diversity Visa Program. The restrictions will not apply to tourist, business or other non-immigrant travel. Proclamation 9983 will be implemented February 21, 2020.

On February 2, 2020, USCCB and other Catholic groups issued a statement opposing the Proclamation. Please also see our backgrounder, Questions and Answers on Proclamation 9983. Bishop Dorsonville, Chairman of USCCB Committee on Migration, also sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives supporting H.R. 2214, the NO BAN Act, which would override the latest proclamation and the five previous executive actions restricting access to legal immigration.

Message of the XV Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops

On February 6-7, 2020, Pope Francis presided over the 15th Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops meeting and reflected "on the consequences of the migratory phenomenon taking place in different regions of the planet." During the deliberations, the urgent need to express solidarity with brothers and sisters involved in the drama of forced migration also emerged and a message was released "on the grave consequences of the movement of people taking place throughout the world." Read the official Vatican bulletin message in English and en Español.

Appropriations

The President released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 budget on February 10, 2020. On February 19th, Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Migration, sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriators with FY 2021 migration-related recommendations concerning Commerce, Justice, and Science; Homeland Security; State, Foreign Operations (SFOPs); and Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS). Also, Refugee Council USA, of which USCCB is a member, issued FY 2021 appropriations recommendations in backgrounders for SFOPs and LHHS. Next steps are Congressional hearings on appropriations and drafting of bills by the House and Senate appropriation subcommittees.

President Trump Appeals Court Decision on Refugee Program

On February 12, 2020, the Administration filed a notice to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals of the 4th Circuit, the U.S. District Court's decision to issue a preliminary injunction in HIAS v. Trump. The preliminary injunction or pause, issued by the court, halted the operation of Executive Order 13888, which required governors' and county officials' consent in order to resettle refugees. The injunction continues to halt operation of the consent requirement. See the U.S. District Court judge's opinion.

New JFI Resources!

We have several new resources relating to recent developments in migration policy. See below:

Public Charge - Starting February 24, 2020, the Trump Administration's changes to the public charge rule go into effect. To get a better understanding of how this will affect refugee resettlement see our one-pager available on our new Immigrants' Eligibility for Benefits resource page.
Asylum - The U.S. government has enacted Asylum Cooperative Agreements between the U.S. and the Northern Triangle countries. Read our backgrounder to learn more.
Difference between Asylees and Refugees - Read our backgrounder to understand the important distinction between asylees and refugee.

April 28th-29th 2020 Refugee Council USA's (RCUSA) Advocacy Days in Washington, DC

Please join us in participating in RCUSA's 2020 Advocacy Days! RCUSA Advocacy Days will be April 28th and 29th in Washington at St. Peter's on the Hill Catholic Church. Please see the concept note and the invitation form for participants to complete. In the question about association with resettlement agencies, put USCCB. There is no registration cost, but participants must cover their own travel and accommodations. Please note that the deadline to apply to attend is March 6th. USCCB is currently working to identify some possible scholarship opportunities. Please contact Rachel Pollock with questions.

Mobilize in March! Meet with Your U.S. Senators and Ask Them to Protect Dreamers during March 16th-20th Congressional

We need your help showing support for Dreamers and encouraging Senators to protect Dreamers.

On November 12, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) heard oral arguments on the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and is expected to issue a ruling on the legality of the DACA program in late the April-June 2020 time frame.

The Catholic Bishops continue to express their support for Dreamers and sent letters to the House and Senate supporting legislation to protect these young people from deportation and family separation. Additionally, at the 2020 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG) in January, the DREAM Act was the migration legislative ask that hundreds of event participants advocated for in meetings with lawmakers during the CSMG Advocacy Day.

As the SCOTUS DACA decision date approaches, we ask you to continue to voice your support for Dreamers with your U.S. Senators in local meetings during the Congressional recess next month, which is March 16-20, 2020

Use the talking points that CSMG attendees used in their Hill meetings and leave behind the DACA backgrounder at your own meetings.
Need help on how to set up a meeting? Click on this link for "How to Set Up an In-District Meeting with your Lawmaker."

Thank you!

2nd Round of Federal Reimbursements Available for Humanitarian Relief Provided at the U.S./Mexico Border - Due March 16th!

Due to USCCB/MRS and other groups' advocacy, the federal government appropriated $30 million dollars this summer through the supplemental funding package to help reimburse groups who provided humanitarian aid to asylum seekers at the U.S./Mexico Border. The federal government reimbursed some of the groups last year, and local organizations and Borderland communities that contributed in the relief effort can now apply for a second round of reimbursement money. Organizations can access the new application for reimbursement until March 16, 2020. The national board of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) will announce reimbursement recipients on May 4, 2020. The application is available on the EFSP's website. The funds are coming from the EFSP through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Volunteer Interpretation Assistance at Asylum Interviews with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York - Ongoing - Volunteers fluent in French or Spanish are needed to interpret at asylum interviews. Volunteers must be comfortable hearing traumatic stories, and able to handle confidential and sensitive information. Services are provided at offices in Downtown Manhattan or South Bronx. Please complete this brief survey to sign up and a volunteer coordinator will contact you.

Jordan Ministry Team's Annual Alive in the Savior Event: Honoring Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ of the Kino Border Initiative - March 8, 2020 at 3 PM in Tucson, AZ - Celebrate this year's "Alive in the Savior" Award recipient Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ of the Kino Border Initiative at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 300 N. Tanque Verde Loop Rd., Tucson 85748. Please purchase tickets online.

Catholics at the Capitol: Archdiocese of Louisville Catholic Advocacy Day - March 11, 2020 at 8:30 AM in Frankfort, KY - Participate in this annual event and join others from throughout Kentucky to advocate for Catholic priorities. Gather at the State Capitol Building, 702 Capital Ave., Frankfort 40601, for meetings with lawmakers. RSVP by March 5, 2020.

Catholic Community Services (CCS) and the Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County Dine-In Fundraiser - March 11, 2020 at Noon - 9 PM in Eugene, OR - Support the CCS Refugee & Immigrant Services Program! Join us at 1960 COCINA, 1810 Willamette St., Eugene 97401, for a wonderful meal as you contribute to welcoming refugees in our Eugene community. Get more information on our calendar of events.

Applications Being Accepted for Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) Summer Internship Program in Washington, DC - CCUSA, a JFI core member organization, is now accepting applications for its 2020 Summer Internship Program. For eight weeks, interns will work with the Research and Evaluation team to advance the work of CCUSA's strategic and operational priorities. More information is on CCUSA's internship page. Applications close March 13, 2020, with decisions made by April 6th.

New England Vision Faith & Justice Summit on Human Trafficking - March 14, 2020 at 9 AM - 4 PM in Hartford, CT - Join us at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Hartford, 467 Bloomfield Ave., Hartford, CT 06002, for a day of inspiring stories and valuable insights in the fight to end human trafficking in Connecticut. Register at the event website.

21st Annual Landregan Lecture: 'And You Welcomed Me: A Catholic Mediation on Immigration and Race for a Changing Community' - March 21, 2020 at 7 PM at the University of Dallas, TX - Immigrants constitute one quarter of the U.S. Catholic population and millions of immigrants from throughout the world are renewing and redefining the core of the American Catholic experience. Hosffman Ospino, Professor of Theology and Religious Education at Boston College, will assess what it means to be a U.S. Catholic today and call to action to confront dangerous biases that undermine our shared existence as a church and society. Learn more about this free lecture on the U. of Dallas event site.

In Solidarity,

Tony Cube