JFI Biweekly Review: September 4-15, 2023 JFI Colleagues, Please see below for the latest updates from JFI. USCCB Urges Against Including Harmful Immigration Provisions in Appropriations Measures On September 11, 2023, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, joined with two of his fellow Conference chairmen in sending a letter to congressional leadership that addresses the Administration’s recent funding requests. Before discussing a range of funding items, most of which touch on migration-related issues, the bishops expressed their “deep concern about calls by some Members of Congress to condition enactment of any supplemental, continuing, or regular fiscal year 2024 funding bill on the inclusion of a number of extraneous policy provisions for which there is no precedent in the appropriations process, such as those contained in the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2).” With respect to the Administration’s requests, the bishops affirmed funding intended to counter the exploitation of children, bolster efforts to welcome newcomers authorized for federal assistance, provide relief to disaster-stricken communities, and deliver further humanitarian assistance for those impacted by the war in Ukraine. Congress must pass a continuing resolution before the funding deadline of midnight on September 30 to avoid a partial government shutdown. However, members of the House Freedom Caucus continue to demand that H.R. 2 be included, among other items, as part of the stopgap measure in order for them to cooperate in the process. As a result, the current likelihood of a shutdown is the greatest it’s been in several years. The USCCB strongly opposed H.R. 2 prior to its passage by the House of Representatives along party lines earlier this year. National Migration Week Highlights “Overlooked Right” Not to Migrate The Catholic Church in the United States will observe National Migration Week (NMW) from September 18-24, 2023. Each year, this week-long celebration culminates with the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR), established by the Holy See over 100 years ago and commemorated by Catholics across the globe. Throughout this week, the faithful and others of good will are encouraged to reflect on the challenges facing migrants, refugees, and others impacted by the complex phenomenon of forced displacement, the ways these newcomers enrich welcoming communities, and how we are each called to respond to them as members of the same human family. Ahead of National Migration Week, Bishop Seitz issued the following statement: “For millennia, people have been forced to flee their homelands, seeking safety and security, because of factors beyond their control. Pope Francis reminds us that Sacred Scripture reveals the Holy Family’s own flight into Egypt was not the result of a free decision, nor were many of the migrations that marked the history of the people of Israel. Through our belief in Jesus Christ, we are compelled to respond with charity toward those who must uproot their lives in search of refuge, but efforts to manage migration—even when predicated on the common good—require that we also address the coercive forces driving people to migrate. Only through collective efforts to alleviate these forces and by establishing the conditions required for integral human development can people truly avail themselves of the right to remain in their country of birth. May God, through the intersession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, sustain us in these pursuits and protect those whose lives depend upon their success.” The theme for NMW 2023, “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. Please share your NMW and WDMR events, celebrations and Mass information on JFI’s Facebook page and Twitter to spread the word about your plans during the week! JFI Action Alerts JFI has two active action alerts, one for the Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act (PVIYA) and another for the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA). In the last two weeks, Bishop Seitz sent letters on behalf of the USCCB in support of the AAA and PVIYA. The links for the action alerts are: Stand in Solidarity with Our Afghan Neighbors Please Safeguard Children and Ensure Access to Religious Workers Please send the action alerts to your national networks and ask your advocates to send advocacy messages to their U.S. Senators and Representatives.  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 September 11 CMS Migration Update, which includes: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Extends and Re-designates Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan and Extends Re-registration Period for Six Countries Appeals Court Overturns Lower Court Decision On River Buoys In the Rio Grande United States Announces $163 Million In Aid for Sudan Emergency Response 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 11 de septiembre, que incluye: El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) extiende y re-designa el estatus de protección temporal para Sudán del Sur y extiende el período de reinscripción para seis países Corte de Apelaciones anula decisión del tribunal inferior sobre boyas fluviales en el Río Grande Estados Unidos anuncia 163 millones de dólares en ayuda para la respuesta de emergencia en Sudán Migration-Related Stories, Op-Eds and Interviews by Catholic Bishops, and Catholic Agency Executives Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso interviewed on EWTN – News In Depth: The Role of the Church in the Immigration Debate Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami: Immigration system is a problem; immigrants are not Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn: Celebrate migration as the ultimate free choice a human can make Statement by Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington (VA): National Migration Week 2023 Notable New Publications, Reports, Films, Articles, Etc.  Jesuit Refugee Services: Accompaniment at the U.S.-Mexico Border: Conditions Report & Policy Recommendations The report documents how the lack of effective border policies has seriously affected people seeking asylum on both sides of the border and includes recommendations for how Congress and the Administration can remedy these challenges. Congressional Research Service: The Statutory Bars to Reentry into the United States This report details various statutory bars to re-entry for those who accrue unlawful presence in the U.S. and are removed or depart the country. It also covers potential exceptions and waivers to these bars. American Immigration Council: Fact Check: Migrants Aren’t the Ones Smuggling Fentanyl Into the United States Attempts to link fentanyl smuggling to migration exist primarily to convince voters to view the southern border with fear and to stoke political support in favor of a harsh crackdown. This analysis refutes those attempts. 20th Annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference - September 18, 2023 in Washington, DC This year's Immigration Law and Policy Conference, organized by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., Migration Policy Institute, and the Georgetown University Law Center, will be a hybrid event. The in-person conference will be held at the Lohrfink Auditorium on Georgetown University’s Main Campus in Washington, D.C., and will also be livestreamed for virtual attendees. The conference will feature fresh, thoughtful policy and legal analysis, and discussion of some of the top immigration issues by leading government officials, attorneys, policymakers, researchers, advocates, and other experts. We look forward to your participation. Annual Conference of U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking - September 28-30, 2023 This year’s conference, “Breaking Barriers to End Human Trafficking,” will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton - Chicago North Shore Conference Center. Features this year include keynote speakers Angela Reed, RSM, and Christopher Thompson, a dinner cruise, exhibitors, the Sister Margaret Nacke Bakhita Award Dinner, a meditation session, and more. Nationally renowned speakers will share their expertise on many topics that relate to human trafficking. Register today. Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources Helping Maui. As the death toll from the wildfire in Maui continues to rise, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i is accepting monetary donations online to support the people affected. Catholic Charities will use 100% of your donation for victims of the Maui wildfires. Donations via check can be made to “Catholic Charities Hawai‘i.” Please write “Maui Relief'' in the memo section and mail it to: Catholic Charities Hawai'i 1822 Keeaumoku St. Honolulu, HI 96822. JustFaith’s Annual Impact Celebration, September 21, 2023 at 8 PM Eastern. This year we'll honor JustFaith Ministries program graduates whose experiences inspired them to seek justice locally, nationally, or globally. The event will feature a keynote presentation by New York Times best-selling author, national speaker, and public historian, Dr. Jemar Tisby! Dr. Tisby is the author of The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism, used in JustFaith Ministries’ Faith and Racial Healing program. Reserve your space now! Pax Christi USA Virtual Mass to Kick-off Catholic Non-violent Days of Action, September 21, 2023 at 8 PM Eastern. Join celebrant Fr. Joe Mattern, founder of the Casa Esther Catholic Worker in Omro, Wisconsin, who will use the Eucharist of Gospel Nonviolence, a resource created by the Working Group on Gospel Nonviolence for the Association of United States Catholic Priests. Use this link to register for the Mass. 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!