JFI Biweekly Review: July 15-26, 2024 | |
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JFI Colleagues,
Please see below for the latest updates from JFI including the next national call, webinars, statements, and upcoming events.
USCCB Endorses the Stateless Protection Act
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On July 22, two committee chairmen of the USCCB wrote to Congress to express their support for the “Stateless Protection Act of 2024” (S. 3987/H.R. 7755). The bill would define “stateless person” for the first time in U.S. law, afford protection to stateless persons through a new form of relief and path to permanent residency known as Stateless Protected Status, and support initiatives aimed at preventing statelessness and related human rights violations. Bishop Mark Seitz and Bishop Elias Zaidan, who lead the USCCB’s Committee on Migration and Committee on International Justice and Peace, respectively, referenced recent and alarming abuses witnessed in places such as Nicaragua, where Catholic clergy and laypersons have specifically been targeted by the state and stripped of their citizenship, as a cause for heightened concern regarding the issue of statelessness.
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Reminder: New Bilingual Resource on Family Relief Program
Following the Biden Administration’s announcement last month of a new relief program for the undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens, the USCCB released a new explainer in English and Spanish. Importantly, it is not yet possible to apply for this program. Community members should be vigilant against fraud, especially anyone offering access to the program for a fee. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) expects to begin accepting applications for this process on August 19. More details, including instructions for those wishing to apply, are expected be released in the coming weeks, at which point the USCCB will offer an informational webinar.
Lowering the Temperature in Catholic Culture Wars – Over a Meal
Political tensions and polarization within the Catholic Church is notable, particularly as we approach the upcoming presidential election in November. This is a problem for Church unity, as Catholics are being pitted against one another on a range of issues. This is certainly evident in the field of migration and is a problem that is noted by Catholics from a variety of political persuasions. It is critical that we come together and find ways to discuss contentious issues that increasingly divide us. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have launched a Civilize it campaign, that seeks to do just this. A recent article in America magazine, written by Tim Bush, the founder of the Aspen Institute, highlights one way in which we can hinder further polarization and perhaps find room for unexpected common great – sharing a meal and celebrating the faith together. We would love to hear how you are bringing fellow Catholics together to discuss issues of importance to the Church and our community and how we might help in this effort. Please email Tony Cube to explore how we might better do this together.
Reminder: 2024 World Day of Migrants & Refugees/National Migration Week
On June 20, the USCCB joined with others around the world in honoring refugees and the communities that welcome them. Bishop Seitz released the following statement: “On World Refugee Day, we reflect on the urgent need to promote the dignity and rights of refugees, as well as the positive contributions they make to our communities. As Catholics, we are called by the Gospel and Church teaching to embrace our brothers and sisters fleeing for their lives, offering them compassion, support, and solidarity. For generations, Catholics across the United States have embodied this through their commitment to refugee resettlement. In these efforts, we witness the resiliency of refugees, and we recognize in them a hope for new life, which resonates in the heart of every Christian. May this work of welcome continue to inspire within us a deeper awareness of our own journey toward everlasting life.”
The Catholic Church in the United States will observe National Migration Week (NMW) from September 23-29, 2024. 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.
The theme for NMW 2024, “God Walks with His People,” underscores the solidarity with migrants our Church embraces as they journey in various ways to find security, safety and peace for themselves and their families. 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 2024 toolkit (in Spanish), where we expand on the theme and suggest possible ways for your community to get involved. Homily notes and prayer resources.
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! Also, let us know what you are doing for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees by emailing Tony Cube at [email protected].
Save the Date: Center for Migration Studies/MRS Conference in New York – September 12, 2024
If you are in the New York area, please join us for an upcoming conference. On Thursday, September 12, 2024, the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) will host a 2024 Immigrant Integration Convening, A Church at the Borders: Best Practices, Promises and Aspirations for the Integration of Migrants in New York, to be held at St. John's University in New York City.
The arrival of over 190,000 asylum-seekers to the New York area over the past two years has brought into focus what it means to be a welcoming city, and especially, “What does welcome and integration mean for the Church today?” Certain parishes and universities, legal and social services have made great strides, but emerging “best practices” have neither been identified nor shared widely. The 2024 IIC will shed light on the integration of migrants within all the organizations and institutions of the Church in the area, and show, in many places, how migrants are leading the way.
Please visit our registration site to learn more.
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New JFI Resource: Family-based Immigration: A Catholic Perspective
Family unity and reunification have long been foundational principles of our nation’s immigration system. While U.S. immigration policy incorporated family relationships as a basis for admission into the U.S. as early as the 1920s, it was in 1952 that the current approach was enacted with the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under these laws, both U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) over the age of 21 have the ability to petition for certain family members to receive immigrant visas. These visas grant an individual LPR status, also known as a “green card”, which is a pathway to U.S. citizenship. Please take a moment to read this overview, which will help you better understand this complex issue.
For those who have friends and colleagues not on the listserv but who might be interested in this and other resources, please send them to the JFI website for more information.
Save the Date: Next JFI National Zoom Call – Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific
Please note on your calendars the date and time for the August 28, 2024 JFI National Zoom Call. Information to participate in the call will be sent to the participant call list. Please send us an email if you want to be on the list.
Welcome Wednesdays Series
For #welcomewednesday, watch Bishop Seitz on video discuss the Church's fight against of human trafficking.
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Policy Update /
Actualización de Política
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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 July 23 CMS Migration Update, which includes:
- Border Arrivals Drop By Over 50 Percent in Six Weeks Since Biden's Restrictive Asylum Rule
- DHS Extends and Redesignates TPS For Somalia
- With Three Months Left in Fiscal Year 2024, the United States has Resettled Close to 70,000 Refugees
View the July 16 CMS Migration Update, which includes:
- Biden Administration Attempts to Promote Immigrant Entrepreneurship
- US State Department Expands Visa Restrictions to Travel Agencies and Tour Companies Which Facilitate Irregular Migration
- DHS Extends and Re-designates Yemen for TPS
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 23 de julio, que incluye:
- Las llegadas fronterizas caen más del 50 por ciento en seis semanas desde la restrictiva regla de asilo de Biden
- DHS extiende y re-designa TPS para Somalia
- A falta de tres meses para que termine el año fiscal 2024, Estados Unidos ha reasentado a cerca de 70.000 refugiados
Ver la Actualización de Migración del CMS del 16 de julio, que incluye:
- La administración Biden intenta promover el emprendimiento de los inmigrantes
- El Departamento de Estado de EE.UU. amplía las restricciones de visado a las agencias de viajes y empresas turísticas que facilitan la migración irregular
- El DHS extiende y se designa a Yemen para el TPS
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Notable New Publications, Reports, Resources, Articles, Etc.
Center for Migration Studies (CMS) of New York: High-Growth Occupations Reliant on Undocumented Immigrant Workers in New York State
The workforce of New York State currently includes 470,100 undocumented workers. The majority of these workers have been in the country over 10 years (54%), are aged 35-64 (62%), and–despite high employment–do not have health insurance (42%). The majority (56%) of undocumented workers come from six countries: Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, China, and the Dominican Republic. Twenty-four occupations currently have at least 5,000 undocumented workers, which is a significant composition. This includes construction laborers, maids/housekeepers, cooks, home health/personal care aides, janitors, and delivery drivers. Twelve occupations are designated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) with “much faster than average” growth over that period, are projected to grow by at least 10,000 new jobs, and currently have high rates of undocumented workers in New York State, including: cooks, home health/personal care aide, taxi drivers, delivery drivers, and medical/physical therapy assistants. This article explores the correlation between undocumented immigrant workers in these fields with supporting information from the BLS.
Hope Border Institute and Derechos Humanos Integrales en Acción: Pain as Strategy: The Violence of U.S.-Mexico Immigration Enforcement and Texas’ Operation Lone Star against People on the Move in El Paso-Ciudad Juárez
This report documents systemic abuses against people on the move in the region by Mexican immigration enforcement, Texas Operation Lone Star, and U.S. immigration policies.
U.S. Department of State: Third Anniversary of the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in Central America
In July 2021, Vice President Harris announced the implementation of a new U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in Central America. Through this strategy, the United States is delivering tangible benefits and creating economic opportunities for citizens in the region to prosper at home. Our efforts have mobilized partner governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society groups to take collaborative action. Together we are implementing policies and programs to address the complexity of irregular regional migration in line with our commitments with 22 partners under the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection.
At its core, the U.S. Strategy to Address Root Causes of Migration in Central America aims to establish more prosperous, safe, and democratic conditions so that potential migrants are not compelled to leave their homeland and make the dangerous journey north. As a result of our efforts in the last three years, more people see futures for themselves and their families at home. The strategy has five pillars: economic opportunity, governance, human rights, security, and addressing gender-based violence. Learn more about the progress in the latest Root Causes Strategy Results Report.
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Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Services | |
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Don Bosco Global Youth Festival Submission Deadline: July 31, 2024. This year’s Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival (DBGYFF) will take place on Thursday, October 17, and Friday, October 18, in New York. The theme for 2024 is “I Have a Dream: Youth and Climate Change Making Mother Earth Cleaner and Greener.” Learn how to submit a film to the festival.
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Franciscan Peace Center Virtual Prayer Vigil, August 6 and 9, 2024. The Sisters of St. Francis of Clinton, IA, will host a virtual prayer service to commemorate the tragic events of August 6 and 9, 1945, when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
In solidarity,
Tony Cube
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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.
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