JFI Week in Review 7/20/20 - 7/24/20

Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

Sección en español de la Semana en Revisión

La Arquidiócesis de México publica un manual para la atención pastoral de los migrantes

La Comisión de Pastoral de Migrantes y Movilidad Humana de la Arquidiócesis de México anunció la publicación del manual 'En camino con los migrantes y refugiados', un instrumento pastoral que busca sensibilizar y concientizar sobre el fenómeno migratorio, para despertar respuestas que contribuyan a transformar esta realidad. El manual está estructurado en cuatro secciones; las tres primeras reflejan el método de Ver-Juzgar-Actuar, propio de la pastoral, mientras que la última sección propone pistas didácticas. El manual se puede pedir en el teléfono +52 (557) 913-2909 o [email protected].

Inmigración y Su Parroquia de julio (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), el cual está dirigido a sacerdotes y agentes pastorales. La edición de julio incluye recursos, noticias acerca de DACA, información sobre becas y oportunidades virtuales de aprendizaje y capacitación. Si desea recibir Inmigración y Su Parroquia por favor regístrese utilizando este enlace.

Pastoral Migratoria le invita a registrarse en dos seminarios web que tratarán temas de importancia para la comunidad inmigrante:

DACA y el Proceso de Crear un Cambio Sistemático. El día 30 de julio distinguidos panelistas abordarán el tema de DACA y el proceso de crear cambios sistemáticos.
Respuesta Pastoral a Inmigrantes en una Nueva Era Digital. El día 13 de agosto representantes de la RED Pastoral Migratoria estarán compartiendo acerca de cuáles son las mejores prácticas para hacer pastoral digital con comunidades inmigrantes durante estos tiempos de distanciamiento social.

El Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Kansas City - St. Joseph, MO (al cual el ministerio local de Pastoral Migratoria pertenece) desarrolló una serie de videos cortos que abordan diferentes temas relacionados a la salud mental en tiempos de COVID-19. Puede ver los videos en la página web de este ministerio.

Conozca sus derechos en medio de la pandemia COVID-19

En Caridades Católicas, la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros clientes y personal es una alta prioridad durante la pandemia COVID-19. Nuestros abogados de inmigración y asistentes legales continúan proporcionando servicios legales a los clientes de forma remota. El personal legal bilingüe de habla hispana también está a mano para reducir las barreras para nuestros clientes. (Este documento es cortesía del Programa de Servicios legales de Inmigración de Caridades Católicas de Dubuque, Iowa).

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

No Ban Act and Access to Counsel Acts Pass House of Representatives

On July 22, 2020, H.R. 2214, the National Origin Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act (NO BAN Act), and H.R. 5581, the Access to Counsel Act passed the House of Representatives. On July 21st, Bishop Dorsonville, Chair of USCCB Committee on Migration sent a letter of support. The NO BAN Act would vacate 6 past executive actions that restricted access to lawful migration while not strengthening protection for U.S. citizens, and the Access to Counsel Act would strengthen at risk migrants' access to due process while not undermining U.S. security or public safety.

Bishops Oppose President Trump's Effort to Exclude Undocumented from Representation Deriving from the Census

On July 21, 2020 the President signed a memorandum ordering the Secretary of Commerce to exclude undocumented immigrants from being included in the 2020 Census apportionment count for the U.S. House of Representatives. Please see the Archbishop Coakley and Bishop Dorsonville's statement on the memorandum.

Learn more about the Census and Information Sharing here.

Migration-Related Developments on COVID-19 Legislation

The Senate has returned to Washington, DC and is reportedly negotiating the next package of COVID-19 assistance measures. 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. Look out for our action alert that will be coming soon!

Appropriations Update

On July 23, 2020, the House begins voting on four of the twelve Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 appropriations bills: State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs); Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Interior, Environment and Related Agencies and Military Construction. This is considered the first minibus. There are pertinent migration provisions in H.R. 7608, the FY 2021 SFOPS Appropriations Act, which the Committee reported to the House on Monday, July 13, 2020. Please see the JFI Updated Summary regarding the refugee and migration related appropriation bills and report language of SFOPs, and also Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Commerce, Justice, and Science; and Homeland Security. The House is scheduled to take up a second minibus next week which will include several other bills.

Pastoral Migratoria Online Summer Virtual Panel Series

The National Institute of Pastoral Migratoria invites you to participate in this panel on July 30, 2020 to gain insight into how personal encounter with immigrants can be a catalyst for systematic change in higher education institutions. The panel featuring, Dr. Donna Carroll of Dominican University, Dr. Mark Kuczewski of Loyola University, Fr. Guillermo Campuzano of DePaul University and Ashley Feasley of USCCB/MRS, will speak on the panel facilitated by Professor Elizabeth Collier of Dominican University. See the flyer below and please pre-register.

World Day Against Human Trafficking Webinar - July 30th at 1 PM 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. Hear directly from USCCB Anti-Trafficking and U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking about their work to combat forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. We have also invited some individuals from the federal government to share what they are working on as well. See the webinar flyer below. Also use the Catholic Sisters social media campaign this month leading up to July 30th. Access this folder with the images and a banner for your social media pages.

Migration Committee Chairman Opposes Proposed New Rule Seeking to Eliminate Protection for Asylum Seekers

The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review issued new proposed rules on asylum on June 15, 2020 with comments on the rule due on July 15th. The new proposed rules if promulgated would allow immigration judges to deny applications before the asylum-seeker can see a judge and raise standards for initial asylum interviews.

On behalf of the USCCB, Bishop Mario Dorsonville issued a statement on the rule to accompany the USCCB/MRS's comment. In his statement he noted:

"These proposed asylum regulations will have devastating consequences for those seeking protection in the United States who are fleeing domestic violence or persecution from gangs in their home countries. The Catholic Church teaches us to look at the root causes of migration, poverty, violence, and corruption. Pope Francis reminds us that 'we must keep our eyes open ..., keep our hearts open ..., to remind everyone of the indispensable commitment to save every human life, a moral duty that unites believers and non-believers.' We cannot turn our backs on the vulnerable."

Individual JFI core member organizations submitted comments opposing the proposed new rule. Among the JFI core members submitting comments were USCCB/Migration and Refugee Services, CLINIC, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Catholic Charities USA, Sisters of Mercy of the Americans, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Jesuit Conference - Office of Justice and Ecology, and National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.

Additionally, other JFI core members and Catholic organizations throughout the country sent the request for comments to their membership and advocacy lists which added to the reported 79,000 public comments recorded on the proposal.

Visit the Justice for Immigrants website to learn more about asylum and the root causes of migration.

Thank you so much for your advocacy on this important issue!

Solidarity Across Borders Campaign

The Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology has launched in partnership with other Jesuit organizations a campaign called Solidarity Across Borders to encourage acts of solidarity with immigrants during COVID-19. The campaign also includes calls to action. This past month focused on stories of essential immigrant workers and asked people to post photos on social media of the themselves holding homemade thank you signs with the #SolidarityAcrossBorders. A current call to action is to write letters to detainees. We look forward to you joining us in this campaign! Below are examples of campaign memes that supporters can use:

Catholic Health Association (CHA) #LoveThyNeighbor Social Media Campaign for Wearing Masks

CHA has launched a social media campaign to promote the importance of wearing masks to slow the spread of COVID-19. CHA's campaign webpage allows anyone to download images and animated files that can be shared on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media channels with the hashtag #LoveThyNeighbor. Tag CHA when posting (@TheCHAUSA).

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Irish Community Services of Chicago: Mindfulness Meet Up and Building Mental Resiliency - August 1 at 9 AM at Oz Park - The next meetup is Sat., Aug. 1st in the Lincoln Park section of Chicago. You can register by emailing Paul. Register today!
Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition Town Hall:Developing Pastoral Care Formation Programs for Those in Prison/Jail Ministries - A Pilot Project - August 6, 2020 at 2 PM Eastern - Join us to discuss an upcoming formation/certification curriculum for volunteer, para-professional and professional chaplains who minister to those affected by incarceration and detention. Register today.
From USCCB/Committee on International Justice and Peace (IJP): Resources for the 75th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - On August 6th and 9th, the world will mark the 75th Anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where atomic weapons caused untold death and suffering. USCCB/IJP calls on Catholics in the U.S. to renew their commitment to pray and work for an end to nuclear weapons. Get involved and start with this this prayer card (en Español) ahead of the coming anniversaries.
Catholic Charities of New York Archdiocese Seeks Volunteer Photographers - Catholic Charities needs photographers and videographers to visit their food pantries, human service agencies, and events throughout Manhattan and the Bronx. Videographers are especially needed! Volunteers must be able to respond to requests within 24 hours. Postings are on the website.
Self-Study Training from CLINIC: Volunteers Helping Immigrants Become U.S. Citizens: The Naturalization Group Application Workshop -Volunteers are important in facilitating the naturalization of future citizens. Helping immigrants become U.S. citizens at naturalization application workshops helps to make a positive difference. This free course strives to educate people about basic naturalization law and the naturalization group application workshop model and takes 45-60 minutes to complete. Get started now!