JFI Week in Review 7/6/20 - 7/10/20

Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

Sección en español de la Semana en Revisión

Oraciones de Dias Festivos Para la Integración de Inmigrantes

¿Esta buscando maneras para incorporar la integración de inmigrantes en celebraciones basadas en la iglesia? Encuentre inspiración por nuestros ejemplos reales de la vida parrioquias atraves del trabajo con las comunidades locales. Nosotros le invitamos a imprimir nuestras folletos de oraciones festivas en ingles y español las oraciones de integración de los inmigrantes, cuales contienen las oraciones de Pascuas, día de la Madre, el día del Padre, el día de Acción de Gracias y de las Navidades.

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

Immigration-Related Developments on COVID-19 Legislation

On June 25, 2020, Senators Marco Rubio and Thom Tillis introduced The American Citizen Coronavirus Relief Act, which would amend the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to ensure that U.S. citizens married to non-citizens be eligible to receive federal coronavirus stimulus funding.

On July 1st, Bishop Mario Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Migration, sent a letter supporting the American Citizen Coronavirus Act as a "step in the right direction," but also urged the Senate to go further to ensure that all U.S. citizen children be eligible for the funding.

The Senate is expected to work on and be ready to review the next package of COVID-19 assistance measures when they return to Washington, DC, on July 20th. Please review our USCCB Migration-Related Requests for COVID-19 Package 4 backgrounder to learn about our priorities, and stay tuned for any updates from USCCB/MRS.

Catholic and Evangelical Leaders Send Letter Regarding Resettlement Needed for Refugees Including Those Fleeing Religious Persecution

Catholic and Evangelical leaders recently sent a letter to the Trump Administration urging resettlement for refugees, including those suffering from religious persecution. The letter was signed by Catholic Bishops from the USCCB Committees on International Justice and Peace, Migration and Religious Liberty, as well as Bethany Christian Services, Catholic Charities USA, Center for Migration Studies, The Episcopal Church, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, International Catholic Migration Commission, Jesuit Refugee Services, National Association of Evangelicals and World Relief. It makes recommendations to continue and further efforts to combat religious persecution with greater commitment to refugees resettled in the United States.

See our backgrounder on Religious Minorities and also please feel free to use our meme on the issue in social media.

DACA and Dreamer Update

On July 1st, Senator Dick Durbin went to the Senate floor to ask for unanimous consent for HR 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. The bill, passed a year ago in the House of Representatives, would give Dreamers and TPS holders on a path to citizenship. Unanimous consent was unfortunately not approved.

President Trump has stated he intends to again attempt to end the DACA program. As we wait for another attempt by the Trump Administration to end DACA, we ask that you continue to advocate that the Senate: (1) include a short-term protection for DACA recipients in the next COVID-19 relief package and (2) pass a permanent legislative solution for Dreamers that gives a path to citizenship. Please ask your advocacy networks to send the JFI 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!

DHS Forces International Students to Leave U.S. If Their Schools Move to Online-Only Instruction

On July 6th, the Trump Administration announced that it will bar international college students from staying in the U.S. if their school's coursework moves entirely online due to COVID-19. This decision applies not only to individuals planning to enter the United States on F-1 or M-1 visas for academic and vocational coursework, but also to those currently residing in the U.S. According to ICE, F-1 and M-1 visa holders who cannot transfer to schools with some in-person learning may be subject to deportation. International students -who pay two-thirds of their college costs with money from outside the United States- contributed $39 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2017-2018 academic year and supported more than 455,000 American jobs. The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities issued the following statement.

CLINIC Asylum Regulation Template - Please Submit Comments by July 15th

On June 15th, the Trump administration proposed a rule that would dramatically limit the ability of asylum seekers to access protection in the United States. CLINIC urges you to take action today with #Comments4Asylum interfaith toolkit. The toolkit contains a "click-to-comment" campaign for individuals to oppose the asylum changes. Comments are due on July 15th.

Please check www.justiceforimmigrants.org for USCCB/MRS's comment soon!

Appropriations Update

This past week, the House did initial subcommittee mark ups of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS); Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS); Homeland Security (DHS); and Commerce Justice Science (CJS) accounts for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 appropriations bills. Please see a summary of their proposed funding levels for immigration and refugee related accounts.

Stay tuned as we will provide further updates, as they become available

Resettlement and Asylum Advocacy After COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities Webinar - July 15, 2020 at 2 PM Eastern

The current COVID-19 crisis has brought changes in policy and operations impacting refugee and asylum seekers and those who serve them. This Catholic Charities USA-sponsored webinar takes stock of the impact of COVID-19 on refugees and asylum-seeking individuals and families, service agencies and how the impacted individual, families and agencies have responded. It will also discuss a restoration of the U.S. resettlement and asylum programs consistent with Catholic Social Teaching. Kelly Agnew-Barajas, Resettlement Director, Catholic Charities, New York City, and Matthew Wilch, Refugee Policy Advisor, USCCB/MRS will present on the webinar. Advance registration is requested.

World Day Against Trafficking Webinar - July 30th at 1PM Eastern

July 30th is the World Day Against Human Trafficking. Please learn more about the World Day Against Trafficking from our webinar on July 30, 2020 at 1 PM Eastern. See flyer below:

New CLINIC Resource: Holiday Prayers for Immigrant Integration

CLINIC recently published a prayer book of integration-related prayers for those that work on integration and naturalization. The prayer book is available on CLINIC's website.

New Catholic Health Association (CHA) Resource

CHA's Pastoral Care Advisory Committee has developed guidelines for the provision of sacraments in a health care setting with attention to public health concerns in light of COVID-19 with review, questions for clarification by infection control specialists, the USCCB Episcopal Liaison to the NACC, and the USCCB Office of Worship. The guidelines are on CHA's website.

Also, visit CHA's Coronavirus resource page for updated information on Catholic Health Association's response to the pandemic.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Centreville (VA) Immigration Forum Food Drive for - July 11, 2020 at Noon - 2 PM Eastern - This event is to provide food to help alleviate the financial struggles that people are experiencing. We are collecting non-perishable food every other weekend through August to immediately distribute to people we serve. Please sign up to bring non-perishable food items to our location at 5944 Centreville Crest Lane, Centreville, VA this Saturday.
Pax Christi USA Webinar: Discipleship in a Time of Radical Change - July 23, 2020 at 7 PM Eastern - In this webinar, Johnny Zokovitch, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, will explore how we follow Jesus in a moment when the call is for deep, difficult, radical change. The murder of George Floyd and the protests in response, as well as how the pandemic and the policies of the current administration have highlighted the deep-rooted disparities in racial inequity in the U.S. Register here for this free webinar.
Book Launch with Author Annie Fukushima, Migrant Crossings: Witnessing Human Trafficking in the U.S. - July 26, 2020 at 6 PM Eastern -Migrant Crossings examines the experiences of migrants trafficked in the U.S. into informal economies and service industries. Through analysis of court records, press releases, law enforcement campaigns, and film representations, Annie Fukushima questions how we understand victimhood, criminality, citizenship, and legality. This is a free event.
New American Economy and Welcoming America Call for Proposals: Gateways for Growth Challenge - The Gateways for Growth Challenge is accepting applications in the development and implementation of community-wide strategic plans for welcoming and integrating New Americans. Selected proposals will receive on-the-ground, direct technical assistance to support the development of a strategic plan for immigrant integration. Join an informational webinar on July 27th to learn more; applications due September 30, 2020.
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns' 2020 U.S. Election Briefs: U.S. Immigration Policy - August 18, 2020 at 12:30 PM Eastern - Maryknoll is operating a series to help voters prepare for the 2020 U.S. elections. Consider participating in this webinar to learn Maryknoll's positions on issues that advance the cause of peace and social justice.
RecruitingVolunteers: Serve Your Community with Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps (JVEs) - The Jesuit Volunteer Corps NW facilitates opportunities for service and spiritual formation for adults 50 and older who are committed to social and ecological justice. Now offering new ways to serve from home during this time of increased need for those who live on the margins. Application deadline is August 31, 2020. Visit www.jvencorps.org to learn more.