JFI Biweekly Review: October 2-13, 2023

JFI Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

Interview of USCCB Migration Chairman on Immigration in the United States

In an interview on EWTN, Bishop Mark Seitz, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, shared the stance of the Catholic bishops on the topic of immigration. Referring to Pope John Paul II who said we should "defend against the unjust restriction of migration and give attention to the rights of migrants, even those doing so illegally," Bishop Seitz discusses how to adhere to that teaching when the migration situation seems so dire and explains what the USCCB is carrying out in terms of charitable outreach to migrants in places like Texas, New York City and Chicago.

Bishop Seitz Comments on the Deportation of Venezuelans

On the social media platform X (formerly called Twitter), Bishop Seitz posted two statements on the news this week that the Administration will resume deportations to Venezuela.

REMINDER: Take Action on our JFI Action Alerts:

Call on Congress to Pass Funding Measures that Further the Common Good

Much is at stake as the U.S. House of Representatives selects a new Speaker followed by Congressional action on federal funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, including our nation’s fundamental commitment to humanitarian protection. If the stopgap funding measure known as a “continuing resolution” is not passed in November, a shutdown of the federal government will occur, impacting many programs and services relied upon by citizens and noncitizens alike. Take action now on this important alert.

JFI has two other 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 below:

Stand in Solidarity with Our Afghan Neighbors

Please Safeguard Children and Ensure Access to Religious Workers

Please consider sending these action alerts to your national networks and ask your advocates to send advocacy messages to their U.S. Senators and Representatives.

JFI Webinar: Report on the 2023 Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers (PCMRT) Visitation to the Diocese of Yakima

Please join us for informative webinar on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 2 PM Eastern. Register today!

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 October 4 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

Biden Administration Sets FY 2024 Refugee Ceiling at 125,000
Administrative Change Could Limit the Ability of Foreign-born Religious Workers to Remain in the United States
USCIS Updates Validity of Employment Authorization to Five Years for Certain Immigration Categories
Republicans Demanded Border Policy Changes to Avoid Government Shutdown

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 4 de octubre, que incluye:

La administración de Biden fija el límite máximo de refugiados para el año fiscal 2024 en 125,000
El cambio administrativo podría limitar la capacidad de los trabajadores religiosos nacidos en el extranjero de permanecer en los Estados Unidos
USCIS actualiza la validez de la autorización de empleo a cinco años para ciertas categorías de inmigración
Los republicanos exigieron cambios en la política fronteriza para evitar el cierre del gobierno

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

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Brooklyn: Today's migrants, and why any aren’t coming legally

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

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office: Afghan Re-Parole Process Tip Sheet This tip sheet was created for Afghan nationals who were paroled into the United States to see if they can apply for re-parole and employment authorization between June 8, 2023, and July 31, 2024.

America Immigration Council: Spotlight on the Changing Demographics of Hispanic Americans Today, Hispanic Americans form the largest ethnic group in the United States. The value of Hispanic Americans to the makeup of the U.S. — demographically, culturally, and economically— has grown every year. For Hispanic Heritage Month, reads this to learn of the most recent data to highlight the important contributions of Hispanic Americans in the United States.

Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources

Catholic Charities of Brooklyn & Queens FREE Vaccination Clinic, October 17, 2023 at 9:30 AM –1:30 PM. Come to our Vaccination Pop-Up Clinic to get vaccinated against the flu, COVID19 and more. The location is the Robert Charles Golden Community Outreach Center 191 Joralemon Street, 1st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

Franciscan Border Encounter, November 2-6, 2023. Join the borderland and migrant communities in this visit organized by the Franciscan Network of Migrants. The visit will seek to understand the realities of both sides of the border in El Paso-Ciudad Juárez, meeting with frontline workers and migrants, and participate in the binational border mass, a cooperative effort of the dioceses of El Paso (Texas), Ciudad Juárez (Mexico) and Las Cruces (New Mexico). Join us and register today.

In solidarity,

Tony Cube

Stay Connected

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