JFI Biweekly Review: July 29 - Aug. 9, 2024

JFI Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI including the next national call, webinars, statements, and upcoming events.

New Resources Addressing Migration Issues

As part of ongoing efforts to address false claims and misinformation related to the work of Catholic organizations with newcomers, the USCCB has produced two new resources:

These resources follow last year’s publication of a more comprehensive Q&A on Catholic Ministries Serving Migrants and Refugees. Please share these as desired.

Problem Areas In Immigration Series: Documented Dreamers

Most noncitizens who come to the United States on temporary work visas do not have a clear path toward permanent legal status. If their minor children come with them, and turn 21 years old in the U.S., they “age out” of the temporary legal status derived through their parents’ visas and confront the difficult choice of having to depart the United States or face potential deportation unless they can obtain a different temporary or permanent status themselves. These young people often refer to themselves as “Documented Dreamers.” There are estimated 200,000 Documented Dreamers in the United States.

The August issue of problem areas in migration focuses on this population, examines some of the challenges they face, and possible improvements that could be made to improve their situations. Please take a moment to read the latest installment in our series on Documented Dreamers.

Wednesday Welcome Series

For #welcomewednesday, Sister Tracey introduces Kino Border Institute and shares how crossing the border is "usually a last resort" for migrants. Watch the inspiring video with Sister Tracey.

Problem Areas In Immigration Series: Documented DREAMers

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.

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.

Reminder: New Bilingual Resource on Family Relief Services

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 to be released in the coming weeks, at which point the USCCB will offer an informational webinar.

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 August 6 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

Biden Administration Temporarily Pauses CHNV Parole Program
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Allows Texas to Keep Razor Wire Buoys in the Rio Grande
USCIS to Allow for CBP One App Appointments from Southern Mexico

View the July 30 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

U.S.-Funded Deportations from Panama Launched
Congressional Budget Office Report: Undocumented Population Will Boost Economy, Lower Deficit
President Biden Invokes Deferred Enforced Departure For Lebanese Nationals

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 6 de agosto, que incluye:

La administración de Biden pausa temporalmente el programa de libertad condicional de CHNV
La Corte de Apelaciones del Quinto Circuito permite a Texas mantener boyas de alambre de púas en el Río Bravo
USCIS permitirá citas de la aplicación CBP One desde el sur de México

Ver la Actualización de Migración del CMS del 30 de julio que incluye:

Lanzan deportaciones desde Panamá financiadas por EE.UU.
Informe de la Oficina de Presupuesto del Congreso: La población indocumentada impulsará la economía y reducirá el déficit
El presidente Biden invoca la salida forzada diferida para los ciudadanos libaneses

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

Christopher Ross, JD - Op-Ed: Immigration Raids in Jackson, Mississippi, Five Years Later: An Evidence-Based Analysis to Dissuade Mass Deportation Policy and Promote a New Immigration Pathway

This paper provides an analysis of a 2019 immigration raid and its effects on the local community, economy, and social services. It will also provide a scaled analysis of major metropolitan areas to show the deleterious effects of mass deportation and dissuade the consideration of mass deportation as viable policy. Finally, it will propose an alternative policy that may prove to be in the best interests of all parties involved.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO): Effects of the Immigration Surge on the Federal Budget and the Economy

The number of people entering the U.S. has increased sharply in recent years. Most of the increase comes from a surge in people whom the Congressional Budget Office categorizes as other foreign nationals. Some of them have received permission to enter or remain in the country, and some have not. In this report, CBO describes how that 2021–2023 surge in immigration affects its baseline budget and economic projections for the 2024–2034 period. That is, this report looks at the incremental impact of the immigration surge and not at the effects of all people who immigrated in those years or who previously immigrated and were already residing in the United States. In addition, only the surge’s effects on federal revenues, mandatory spending, and interest on the debt are examined in detail. The report provides a broad assessment of possible effects on federal discretionary funding; it does not include estimates of the surge’s effects on state and local budgets.

Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC): Guidelines for Parishes and Agencies on Political Activity

Parishes are encouraged to discuss public policy issues. However, the Church does not endorse candidates nor political parties. The WSCC highly encourages advocacy, but some nuances may be confusing. As we are called to faithful citizenship, please consult the WSCC’s Guidelines for Parishes and Agencies on Political Activity to determine what activities may occur at your parish. The WSCC represents the Catholic bishops of Washington State including Archbishop Paul Etienne of the Archdiocese of Seattle, Bishop Joseph Tyson of the Diocese of Yakima, Bishop Thomas Daly of the Diocese of Spokane, and auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Seattle, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo and Bishop Frank Schuster.

Pew Research Center: What the Data Says about Immigrants in the U.S.

The U.S. has long had more immigrants than any other country. In fact, the U.S. is home to one-fifth of the world’s international migrants. These immigrants have come from just about every country in the world. Pew Research Center regularly publishes research on U.S. immigrants. Based on this research, find answers to some key questions about the U.S. immigrant population in this report.

American Immigration Council: Unpacking Myths About Noncitizen Voting — How Heritage Foundation’s Own Data Proves It’s Not a Problem

Over the last decade, many politicians have called for overhauling the United States’ election systems by mandating strict voter ID for both registering to vote and actual voting. Some point to noncitizen voting as evidence of election fraud. However, a close examination of the evidence put forward by proponents of these strict limitations on voting shows just how extraordinarily rare noncitizen voting truly is. Read our report and learn more.

Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Services

Cathedral of St. Matthew (Washington, DC) Young Adults Event, Mass and Get Together, August 11, 2024 at 5:30 PM. Join the Cathedral Young Adults on Sundays following the 5:30 PM Mass and meet other Catholics, talk about the faith, and build friendships!

Diocese of Arlington (VA): Mass for Multicultural Ministries, August 16, 2024 at 6 PM. All are welcome to St. Mary of Sorrows parish to celebrate our unity in diversity. Join Bishop Michael Burbidge for Mass and the following reception.

Center for Migration Studies of New York Webinar, Migration Realities in the United States: Looking at Causes, Trends, and Solutions, September 5, 2024. CMS will will host this webinar and discussion on the migration landscape in the United States, with particular focus on changes in recent years. A panel of experts will speak to the root causes of migration, the issues and opportunities raised by border narratives and politics, the successes and challenges of refugee protection and resettlement, recent demographic changes and trends in migration, and the legal and policy realities, shortcomings, and potential, constructive ways forward. Please register for this webinar.

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.

﻿Actualización de Política

Actualización de Política