Email from USCCB "Filled with compassion and courage" Justice for Immigrants Biweekly Review: December 8-19, 2025 Celebrating 20 years of JFI! "By the end of my term, my hope is that the conversation [about immigration] among Catholics and all people of good will be marked by less polarization and more openness to listening to one another in a spirit of charity.”  –Bishop Brendan Cahill, Bishop of Victoria, December 15, 2025 Updates and Resources UPDATED RESOURCE – Notable Changes in the Reconciliation Bill for Catholic Organizations Serving Noncitizens This resource includes last week's update from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Services on refugees and asylees' SNAP eligibility as they apply for Green Cards. UPDATED RESOURCE – The Trump Administration’s Travel Ban and Restrictions for Nationals of Certain Countries In light of President Trump’s proclamation earlier this week updating and expanding the travel ban first put in place by the Administration in June, the USCCB’s explainer on the travel ban has been updated. NEW RESOURCE – Asylum Update (Now Available in Spanish) In the wake of the shooting three weeks ago, the Trump Administration has announced several policy actions with far-reaching impacts on noncitizens, especially those seeking asylum in the United States. The USCCB has released an explainer on those changes in English and in Spanish. ICYMI – Bishop Brennan Issues Statement in Response to Shooting of West Virginia National Guardsmen Following the tragic shooting of two members of the West Virginia National Guardsmen three weeks ago in Washington, D.C., Bishop Mark Brennan of Wheeling-Charleston issued a statement. USCCB/MRS condemns this inexcusable act of violence. We are praying for the repose of the soul of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and for the full recovery of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. ICYMI – “May We Recognize the Rich Gifts That Neighbors From Diverse Cultures Bring to Our Communities” Says Bishop Garcia In light of recent statements regarding the Somali community in the United States, Bishop Daniel E. Garcia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation, called on all people to remember each person’s God-given human dignity in a new statement. ONGOING INITIATIVE – You Are Not Alone Please reflect on what kinds of support your diocese can provide affected communities and be sure to let us know what you are doing at [email protected] or in this form. Check out our new flier for the initiative: English; Spanish. Please share widely and help others learn about it. Missionaries of Hope In honor of this year's theme for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees we will share hopeful articles, homilies, and videos in each newsletter. Click here to read Pope Leo's message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. US Bishops’ New Immigration Chairman Responds to Critiques From Catholics: National Catholic Register: "The Church does not align herself with political ideologies; rather, she seeks to bring the light of the Gospel and the moral teachings of our faith into every public conversation that touches on human life and dignity. Immigration is one of those areas where the stakes are profoundly human... A system that relies primarily on mass or sweeping deportation as its solution fails to reflect the balance of justice and mercy that our faith demands and our nation’s history warrants." Three U.S. bishops: Racially profiling migrants (and Americans) is a betrayal of the Gospel, America Magazine: "Let us follow the example of Our Lady of Guadalupe and stand in solidarity with those who live in fear, as a testament to God’s abiding peace. Let us be beacons of Christ’s light, filled with compassion and courage. Let us raise our voices in support of a meaningful reform of our immigration system, one that recognizes, as the U.S. bishops reaffirmed last month, that ensuring national security and safeguarding human dignity are not in conflict. Let us reject dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement. And let us never grow weary in the Gospel call to love without condition. May the Lord, who is close to the brokenhearted, strengthen us in this mission. And may we, as one body of Christ, never forget who our neighbors are (Ps 34:19)." St. Paul & Minneapolis Bishops’ Message for Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda, Bishop Kenney, and Bishop Michael Izen of St. Paul and Minneapolis released a powerful video in English and Spanish in honor of our Lady of Guadalupe reminding immigrants that the Church "stands beside them, offering accompaniment, compassion and support:" Wisconsin Catholic Bishops Issue Statement on Federal Immigration Enforcement: "On December 18, the Catholic bishops of Wisconsin released the following statement in English and Spanish: We, the bishops of Wisconsin, reaffirm the recent special message by the United States bishops regarding ongoing federal immigration enforcement. Immigration is a profoundly complex issue. On the one hand, the Catholic Church naturally upholds a country’s right to maintain its borders and regulate its entry and citizenship processes... On the other hand, the Catholic Church urges countries and peoples to compassionately assist our brothers and sisters who emigrate because of war, violence, poverty, and hunger. We can embrace these two principles in unity. There is no inherent contradiction in upholding human dignity, the common good, and the rule of law." Chicago's Archbishop weighs in on a year of immigration enforcement, VPM NPR News: "I think we have to have a very strong voice to encourage [immigrants] that they're not alone in this moment. And that is something the bishops wanted to convey in the statement that they had. How do we convey a sense of advocacy on their behalf, letting them know that they're not alone?" Fresno Catholic Bishop Joseph Brennan’s Case For Human Dignity Amid Immigration Actions, KVPR NPR News: "A major role [of the Church]... is accompaniment, is being with the people, letting them know we're here for them... If someone is detained, we're here to be of service to them, to their children, their families... We have 87 [parishes] that are willing and able to help because we have people who are vulnerable in every one of those locations." California bishops celebrate 'very powerful' Mass for detainees in ICE facility, OSV News: "'You are not alone,' said Rojas, who was recently appointed as a member to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration. 'We support you, we pray for you and your families. We want to see how you are doing.' His comments were met with a loud 'Muchas gracias!' from one of the detainees. The bishop smiled and shouted back, 'De nada!'" Minnesota bishop leads prayer service after ICE detention of parent of Catholic school student, OSV News: "Across the street from the B.H. Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, people gathered with paintings of Our Lady of Guadalupe on her feast day, Dec. 12, for a special prayer service for those detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement." Vigil outside ICE headquarters honors Our Lady of Guadalupe, offers prayers for immigrants, OSV News: "A prayer service outside the Washington headquarters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, paid homage to Mary as the patroness of the Americas and showed support for “our immigrant brothers and sisters,” organizers told OSV News." New Orleans church holds candlelight prayer vigil for those affected by ICE raids, OSV News: "Amid immigration raids in Louisiana, dozens gathered at a New Orleans church for a candlelight vigil, praying for both those detained and for law enforcement officials. The Dec. 9 service was held at Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans, located on the campus of Loyola University." Chicago priest concludes 57-day walking pilgrimage to New York for immigrants’ plight, OSV News: "A Chicago priest completed a 900-mile walk from Chicago’s south suburbs to New York City Dec. 2 to highlight the difficulties immigrant families are facing under the current immigration crackdown across the United States." Maryknoll Advent Reflection Guide, Walking With God 2025: "In this Advent Reflection Guide, we offer reflections, questions, prayers, and actions based on each week’s Scripture readings in light of Catholic social teaching and Maryknoll mission experience. Use this guide individually or in small groups to reflect upon your life, to pray, and to renew your spirit" Welcomers of the week Bishop Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso reflects on racism: "When people are profiled based upon the color of their skin or the language they speak, the Church has great problems with that... You're putting in question a whole group of people... as likely criminals based on those superficial factors." Bishop Seitz reflects on religious liberty: "Religious liberty means that everyone in our country should be able to worship God freely, and when people are told any place you go you could be picked up, there could be a raid... it sent a message: there's no place you can go."   Share & Stay Connected Visit the JFI website, follow us on X and Instagram, or email us! For more frequent news, sign up for CLINIC's daily updates.   USCCB | 3211 Fourth Street NE | Washington, DC 20017 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice