JFI Week in Review 6/22/20 - 6/26/20

Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

¡Nuevo! Sección en español de la Semana en Revisión

Inmigración y Su Parroquiade Junio (Cortesía de la Arquidiócesis de Chicago y Pastoral Migratoria)

El día 15 de cada mes Pastoral Migratoria Nacional envía por correo electrónico el boletín llamado Inmigración y su Parroquia (IySP), dirigido a sacerdotes y agentes pastorales. Este boletín está dividido en cuatro secciones: Noticias, Recursos para Pastoral Migratoria, Recursos para la Comunidad, y La Iglesia y la Inmigración. Nuestra edición de junio incluye recursos e información sobre la justicia social y el combate al racismo, al igual que folletos sobre la importancia de registrarse en su parroquia y cómo prepararse en caso de una redada. Para recibir Inmigración y su Parroquia favor de registrarse utilizando este enlace.

Pastoral Migratoria le invita a registrarse en su parroquia si todavía no lo ha hecho. El registrarse en su parroquia tiene beneficios espirituales y cívicos que ayudan a la comunidad inmigrante. Para obtener más información sobre el porqué es beneficioso registrarse en su parroquia, favor de leer este folleto que fue creado con información proporcionada por JFI (español - inglés)

Nunca es tarde para tener un plan de emergencia. Este folleto con información proporcionada por CLINIC, le ayudará a formular un plan de emergencia y a enterarse de los pasos que puede seguir para protegerse usted y su familia (español - inglés)

DACA Webinar

Ahora que la Corte Suprema ha emitido su decisión sobre DACA, únase a nosotros en este seminario web para escuchar sobre el fallo, qué esperar a continuación y cómo apoyar a los Dreamers.

¿Tiene actualizaciones o recursos en español que desea compartir? Favor de enviarlos a Sarah Hoff y nosotros los promovemos.

DACA Updates

USCCB Welcomes Supreme Court DACA Decision; Urge President to Uphold DACA

On June 18, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump Administration's bid to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was unlawful. The DACA program, initiated in 2012, has granted hundreds of thousands of young immigrants temporary work authorization and relief from deportation.

In a statement, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the USCCB and Bishop Mario Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Migration, welcomed the ruling and gave a statement of support to Dreamers: "First, to DACA youth, through today's decision and beyond, we will continue to accompany you and your families. You are a vital part of our Church and our community of faith. We are with you."

New Post-DACA Decision JFI Resources and Upcoming Webinar in Spanish

JFI created new DACA backgrounders in English and Spanish on our DACA and Dreamer Resource Page:

The Financial Contributions of Dreamers: What the U.S. Economy Stands to Lose / Las contribuciones financieras de los Dreamers: Lo que la economía de los Estados Unidos puede perder

Dreamers on the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Pandemic / Los Dreamers en la Primera Línea de la Pandemia del COVID-19

DACA: What It Means for Dreamers and Their Families / DACA: Lo Que Significa Para los Dreamers y Sus Familias

Additionally, JFI Core Group members conducted a webinar post-ruling on DACA. View the webinar recording on our JFI webinar page.

A similar webinar in Spanish is scheduled for Thursday, July 2nd at 1 PM Eastern.

See the webinar flyer above in the Spanish updates section.

Dreamer Advocacy Next Steps

To advocate for a permanent legislative solution for Dreamers, JFI has launched an action alert to encourage Senators to co-sponsor and support S. 874, the DREAM Act, and asking Senators to introduce and co-sponsor a companion bill to H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. Please send the action alert today!

USCCB Migration Chairman Highlights Vulnerability of Unaccompanied Children and Asylum-Seeking Families

On June 25, 2020, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on the recent challenges to CBP in light of COVID-19. Bishop Dorsonville, Chair of the Migration Committee, submitted testimony highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of unaccompanied children and asylum-seeking families who have been turned away from protection at the U.S./Mexico border in light of the President's partial border closure order.

To learn more about the partial border closure and how it harms unaccompanied children read our backgrounder.

USCCB/MRS Letter on USCIS Emergency Funding Needs

Migration Committee Chairman Bishop Dorsonville sent letters to Congress regarding the recent emergency request for funding by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) due to a projected shortfall of $1.2 billion resulting from revenue loss due to stricter immigration policies. For more information on how to advocate on this issue, please contact [email protected]

Maryland's Catholic Bishops Release Letter on Racial Justice

The Maryland Catholic bishops released a new letter on racial justice, "Building Bridges of Understanding and Hope." In the document, the bishops reflect upon the complex history of the Catholic Church in Maryland regarding racial justice and inequality, and call us forward through prayer, dialogue and action, including engagement in public policy initiatives.

Save the Date: Next JFI National Call - July 1, 2020 at 3 PM Eastern

Join us for the next Justice for Immigrants National Call on July 1, 2020 at 3 PM Eastern. A call reminder and agenda will be sent in soon. Email [email protected] to include agenda items.

World Refugee Day: USCCB Statement & Wrap-Up

(1) USCCB Statement on the 20th Anniversary of World Refugee Day

On June 19, 2020, USCCB Migration Chairman Bishop Dorsonville commemorated the 20th anniversary of World Refugee Day (WRD) in a statement noting, "Now, more than ever we need to protect and accompany our refugee brothers and sisters. . . As Pope Francis reminds us, 'we cannot remain insensitive, our hearts deadened, before the misery of so many innocent people."

(2) World Refugee Webinars

Thanks to all of you who participated in the various World Refugee Day webinars hosted by our Catholic partners and JFI colleagues! Here are the follow-ups to those events:

The slides from the USCCB/MRS and Catholic Charities USA-sponsored WRD webinar, Refugees in the Time of Covid-19, are now posted on the CCUSA website.
The recording of Jesuit Refugee Services' webinar is now available.
Links for Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns' webinars featuring Heidi Cerneka, Maryknoll Lay Missioner Dee Dungy, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers in Praying as We Journey with Refugees, and actions for Welcoming Refugees.

CLINIC Asylum Regulation Template

The Trump administration is proposing a rule that would effectively end asylum. This is a moment with life or death consequences for some of the most vulnerable. The proposed rule would allow judges to decide cases before people have had the chance to present their full case in court and deny asylum for reasons that are not protection-related. CLINIC urges you to take action today with the
#Comments4Asylum interfaith toolkit. The toolkit contains a "click-to-comment" campaign for individuals to oppose the asylum changes.

Catholic Charities USA COVID-19 Resource Page

Please take a look at the Catholic Charities USA resource page which offers the latest news, advocacy efforts, and stories from our ministry here. Resources highlighted on the page include:

Information on Helping your Clients Access Economic Stimulus Checks/Economic Impact Payments (EIP)
CCUSA Family Activity Book (in English & Spanish) - Games, Recipes, Science Experiments and Coloring pages
CCUSA Wellness Strategies for Body, Mind, and Spirit
CCUSA Recommendations for Catholic Charities Food Distribution

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Agape Service Project: Serving Migrant Farmworkers in Whatcom County - This Archdiocese of Seattle project serves farm workers' families who are always essential workers, but especially so during the global pandemic. You can help by donating diapers and wipes or food items to the food bank, and pray for the program and families served.
Catholic Charities USA Webinar Series: COVID19: Racial Health Disparities, Losing a Loved One, and the Next Surge - Jun 29, 2020 at 2 PM Eastern - The impact of COVID-19 on the health of racial and ethnic minority groups is evident through the disproportionate burden of illness and death in this population. Dr. Rhonda Medows will discuss factors that influence the poor health outcomes in the face of COVID-19. Register in advance.
Irish Community Services (ICS) Webinar: Public Benefits and Eligibility - July 2, 2020 at 5:30 PM Central in Chicago - ICS is hosting a webinar on public benefits, eligibility, and unemployment insurance. This webinar is free and open to the public, and presented in webinar format, so participants can remain anonymous. To participate, register in advance.
Loyola University Maryland Webinar: The Social Construction of Systemic Racism - July 8, 2020 at Noon Eastern - This summer Loyola University will host "Voices on Equity: A Lunchtime Series with Loyola," a webinar series discussing race, anti-racism, and living out a deeper commitment to Baltimore. Register and learn more about the series.