JFI Biweekly Review: April 8-19, 2024

JFI Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI including action alerts, webinars, policy update, and upcoming events.

Amid Nationwide Worker Shortages, Bishop Seitz Reaffirms Church’s Closeness with Immigrant Workers Who ‘Labor for Us All’

Highlighting that American communities would “grind to a standstill” without the labor of undocumented immigrants, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso and Chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Migration is encouraging Congress to create more avenues to legal employment authorization for those with pending asylum claims.

“Without their contributions, American communities would grind to a standstill,” Bishops Seitz said in a statement. “Not only are they working in some of the most arduous conditions but frequently with limited legal protections, and they are more susceptible to human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.”

Last week, Bishop Seitz sent a letter to Congress expressing support for further access to legal employment authorization for those with pending asylum claims. The letter references a recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which found refugees and asylees to have made a net fiscal impact of $123.8 billion to the American economy at both the federal and state levels over a fifteen-year period.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York to Celebrate Mass for the people of Haiti

Cardinal Dolan will celebrate a Mass for the people of Haiti at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 10:15 AM. This special Mass is being held to pray for peace and an end to the violence suffered by our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Cardinal Dolan will be joined by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. The Mass will be livestreamed at www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/live

Cabrini: The Movie Discussion Guide

The recently released movie, Cabrini, has taken off as a popular, “must see” film in many Catholic circles. It tells the story of Mother Cabrini, her move to New York, and the challenges that she faced trying to minister to immigrants arriving in the region. JFI has recently developed a discussion guide for the film, which can provide some background and questions that can help individuals or groups reflect on the film. Please feel free to use and to distribute to friends, families, and colleagues who are interested in watching the movie.

(Photo credit: The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Thanks to St. Frances Cabrini Collection, Holy Spirit Library, Cabrini University)

NEW RESOURCE: What's wrong with the U.S. immigration system? A Catholic response

We are excited to unveil a series that delves into the critical issues of migration, a subject that resonates deeply with the Catholic Church for both institutional and moral reasons. Migration, with its complex and multifaceted nature, demands our attention and calls for a nuanced understanding. This initiative isn’t about offering comprehensive solutions; instead, it aims to shed light on specific challenges within the U.S. immigration system and the issue of migration generally that warrant a closer look.

The first issue in this series focuses on the Religious Worker Visa program. Religious workers, native- and foreign-born alike, provide many important services to American communities. Be sides roles directly relating to and required for religious practice, these workers undertake all manner of duties, such as caring for and ministering to those who are sick, aged, and dying, and counseling those who suffer from trauma. This resource provides an in-depth overview of the program, some of the challenges that the church faces with respect to the problem, and some solutions.

LAST CALL: RCUSA Advocacy Days

Refugee Council USA will be hosting their annual national Advocacy Days May 7–8. This is an opportunity for community members, faith leaders, advocates, resettlement staff, and others to gather in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the protection of forcibly displaced people.

Participants will not only meet with their members of Congress but will also be able to attend training sessions to help build and expand their advocacy toolbelt. Attendees who have personally experienced forced displacement are invited for a special day-long training on Monday, May 6, and some scholarships are available for these participants. More information about Advocacy Days, the opportunities, and its goals can be found through the concept note.

Please register here!

Welcome Wednesday Series

For #welcomewednesday, Bishop Seitz describes services provided to migrants at the Diocese of El Paso: https://www.instagram.com/p/C53VFusPFyc/

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 A p ril 16 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

DHS Extends and Re-Designates Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia
Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill Which Would Authorize Shooting of Migrants
United States on Pace to Resettle Close to 100,000 Refugees in FY 2024

View the April 9 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

Arizona Advances Legislation Which Would Sanction the Shooting of Migrants
Biden Administration Extends Work Permits for Certain Immigrants

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 16 de avril , que incluye:

El DHS extiende y re-designa el estatus de protección temporal para Etiopía
Gobernador de Arizona veta proyecto de ley que autorizaría disparar contra inmigrantes
Estados Unidos está en camino de reasentar a cerca de 100.000 refugiados en el año fiscal 2024

Ver la Actualización de Migración del CMS del 9 de avril, que incluye:

Arizona avanza en legislación que sancionaría el tiroteo contra inmigrantes
La administración de Biden extiende los permisos de trabajo para ciertos inmigrantes

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

Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso: Look at the border through the eyes of migrants

Harrison Hanvey, Jesuit Conference of Canada and the U.S., and Julia Young, Associate Professor of History at The Catholic University of America: Social media is revolutionizing migration into the US — and spreading dangerous misinformation

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

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and the Boston College School of Social Work: Navigating the U.S.-Mexico Border: The Digital Practices of Migrants and Their Psychosocial Needs

This report features the findings of ongoing research investigating migrants' digital practices, digital tools as forms of risk and protection, the issues surrounding CBP One, and migrants' perceived needs along the U.S.-Mexico border and migration routes in Mexico. The report also incorporates several direct quotes from migrants as they share their experiences leaving home and waiting to petition for asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

National Immigration Forum Explainer: Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Work Visas

Noncitizens constituted almost 19% of the U.S. labor force as of March 2024. Despite their economic importance, the available options for them to be hired by U.S.-based employers are often insufficient and, in many cases, obsolete. This explainer provides a non-exhaustive list and brief explanation of various visas available for U.S.-based employers to hire noncitizens in the country.

Urban Institute: Examining Afghan Evacuees’ Resettlement: Insights and Lessons for Future Humanitarian Populations

A new report from the Urban Institute and the University of Chicago outlines the results from a multi-faceted study to understand how Afghan evacuees are doing post-arrival, and how the broader community and resettlement field has responded to their complex needs. The report also includes insights for policymakers and other stakeholders on how to assist Afghan arrivals in the near term, as well as better prepare ourselves to welcome future arrivals.

Immigrant Legal Resource Center: What You Need to Know About Public Charge

This Community Explainer reviews public charge, who it impacts, and what immigrants should know regarding certain public benefits and their family’s immigration circumstances.

Healing the Divided Body of Christ: USCCB Resources

With many divisions in the Church and the United States today, the USCCB created resources on how Catholics can be part of the important work to heal those divisions. In an upcoming virtual event on May 14th, join Cardinal Robert McElroy, Bishop Robert Barron, and Bishop Daniel Flores as they dialogue on the challenges of polarization and where Catholics can find hope in a path forward. You can also watch the most recent virtual event about what our faith teaches us about overcoming polarization here.

Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Services

JustFaith Climate Action Webinar, April 25, 2024 at 7 PM Eastern. Amidst the climate crisis, our faith compels us to act. Join a webinar with William Morris to explore the roots of the crisis and our responsibility as people of faith. William, a GreenFaith organizer and Chair of Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA) brings invaluable insight and inspiration to the discussion. Register in advance.

Conference of Major Superiors of Men JPIC Webinar, Best Practices in Integral Ecology: Three Examples, May 21, 2024 at 2 PM Eastern. Join us for this JPIC webinar on integral ecology. The speakers will discuss best practices in integral ecology in the spirit of Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum, offering examples of how male religious have taken concrete steps to implement integral ecological practices in their respective communities. Please register for the webinar.

In solidarity,

Tony Cube

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