New JFI Action Alert

In March 2024, Representative Jamie Raskin and Senator Ben Cardin reintroduced the “Stateless Protection Act of 2024”, which would address statelessness in federal law for the first time in U.S. history. Please complete JFI’s action alert on the bill and urge Congress to affirm the God-given dignity of stateless persons.

Webinar: Election 2024 and Beyond: Things to Watch in the Area of Migration Wondering what migration-related programs and policies could be impacted by the 2024 election cycle? Join experts from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services, and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., to learn more about what they'll be watching between Election Day and Inauguration Day and in the months that follow. Webinar registration is now open.

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 October 8 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

• United States Resettles Over 100,000 Refugees in FY 2024 
• DHS to End Parole Status for Immigrants Brought in Under the CHNV Program

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 8 de octubre que incluye:

• Estados Unidos re-asienta a más de 100.000 refugiados en el año fiscal 2024 
• DHS pondrá fin al estatus de libertad condicional para inmigrantes traídos bajo el programa CHNV

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

Archbishop Emeritus Roger Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles: Immigrants are part of the solution, not the problem



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

Migration Policy Institute: Who Are Immigrants in the United States?

With immigration a topic of significant conversation, it is useful to share key insights about the immigrant population in the United States. This explainer offers top statistics on the foreign-born population in the United States, including its size, origins, places of U.S. settlement, and pathways of arrival. The United States is the world’s top immigrant destination, with more than three-quarters of the nearly 48 million immigrants in the country as of 2023 here legally as naturalized citizens, green-card holders, refugee and asylees, and individuals on long-term temporary visas.

Migration Policy Institute: Immigrants and Crime: What the Research Shows Research consistently shows that immigrants in the United States commit crimes at lower rates than the native-born population, despite narratives to the contrary that surface at times. Our latest resource offers a succinct look at comprehensive studies, including a unique dataset from the state of Texas, which demonstrate that immigration is not correlated with increased crime rates—a finding that holds across immigrant groups, including unauthorized immigrants. In fact, some research suggests a greater concentration of immigrants can be associated with reduced criminal activity, particularly in communities with inclusive policies. The explainer also details the screening and vetting processes that migrants undergo when entering the United States.

American Immigration Council: FEMA’s Role in Migrant Assistance: Exploring the Shelter and Services Program

The aftermath of Hurricanes Milton and Helene has resulted in misinformation on how aid is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA). The Shelter and Services Program, which is administered by FEMA, has drawn particular attention for its role in providing funding to state and local governments for their work in supporting new immigrants. Since its creation in 2019, the program has received bipartisan support from members of Congress and from local leaders who have called on the federal government to provide more financial assistance to communities both at the border and around the country that receive new immigrants. This new fact sheet from the Council explains how the Shelter and Services Program works, aiming to debunk the misinformation currently surrounding the program.