JFI Week in Review - October 12th - 16th, 2020

Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

Sección en español de la Semana en Revisión

El 29 de octubre de 2020 "Keep Hope Alive Benefit"

Marquen sus calendarios para nuestro evento virtual el 29 de octubre de 2020 Keep Hope Alive Benefit, "15 años unidos por la justicia para los inmigrantes", presentando al cardenal Blase J. Cupich, Arzobispo de Chicago, y a la hermana Norma Pimentel, de Caridades Católicas del Valle del Río Grande. Este evento en línea tendrá lugar a las 4:30 p.m. PST / 6:30 p.m. CST / 7:30 p.m. EST., en apoyo al Ministerio de Inmigración de la Arquidiócesis de Chicago y la iniciativa nacional de Pastoral Migratoria.

Desde el 2005, el Ministerio de Inmigración (Pastoral Migratoria) ha respondido a la campaña católica por una reforma migratoria "Justicia para los inmigrantes" de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos. Enraizada en la rica tradición social católica y la metodología del Documento de Aparecida, Pastoral Migratoria es un ministerio de liderazgo inmigrante de acciones de servicio, justicia y acompañamiento. A través de la iniciativa nacional, Pastoral Migratoria involucra a 350 líderes laicos hispanos y polacos en 63 parroquias de inmigrantes en cuatro diócesis de Estados Unidos (Chicago, Nueva York, Stockton y Kansas City-St. Joseph). Los líderes trabajan en cuestiones cívicas que enfrentan sus comunidades, como inmigración, trabajo, educación, vivienda, etc. A través de la Red Nacional de Pastoral Migratoria, los líderes comparten recursos y mejores prácticas, desarrollan estrategias y trabajan en colaboración; una necesidad identificada por el proceso del V Encuentro.

Inscríbanse gratis para participar a este evento benéfico "Keep Hope Alive" - visiten KeepHopeAlive2020.org (Por favor tengan en cuenta que este evento será en inglés) o comuníquense con Mark Goebel al 312.534.8383 o [email protected].

Los participantes aprenderán sobre la conexión de Pastoral Migratoria con el mensaje del Papa Francisco y el impacto del ministerio en las comunidades inmigrantes. También conocerán al liderazgo de Pastoral Migratoria y verán como los líderes laicos están respondiendo a las necesidades de sus comunidades.

¡CAMBIO DE FECHA! ¡Marque sus calendarios! ¡La Semana Nacional de la Migración 2021 se mueve! 20 al 26 de septiembre de 2021

Durante casi cuarenta años, la Semana Nacional de la Migración (NMW, por sus siglas en inglés) se ha celebrado la semana después de la Epifanía en enero. Una de las razones principales para la selección de estas fechas se debió al momento del mensaje del Día de la Migración del Papa, que se celebró a mediados de enero.

En el 2019, el Papa Francisco anunció que el Día Mundial del Migrante y del Refugiado se celebraría de ahora en adelante el último domingo en septiembre. Para mantener la costumbre de alinear NMW con el Día Mundial del Migrante y del Refugiado, los obispos católicos de los Estados Unidos decidieron recientemente trasladar la Semana Nacional de la Migración a la última semana de septiembre. Dado que ya hemos celebrado NMW 2020 en enero de este año, la próxima semana Nacional de la Migración que celebraremos será del 20 al 26 de septiembre de 2021, con el Día Mundial del Migrante y del Refugiado del Vaticano el domingo 26.

Más información acerca de la celebración, el tema de la Migración Nacional del próximo año y recursos estarán disponibles en nuestro sitio web de Justicia para Inmigrantes en la primavera de 2021.

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

Refugee Resettlement Update

Immediate Action: Urge the President to Complete the PD and Allow Refugees to Be Resettled in the United States! Despite the Trump Administration sending its notice to Congress on September 30th, signaling its intent to only allow 15,000 refugees to be resettled in the United States for Fiscal Year 2021 (the lowest number ever), refugees still are not allowed to come to the United States as the Trump Administration has not completed the statutory process required for the Presidential Determination (PD). Without the completed PD process no refugees can arrive to the United States.

There are steps still need to be taken in order for refugees to be allowed to be resettled in the United States. Read our new FAQ on the FY 2021 Report to Congress and the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admission to learn more about what is at stake.

Also please continue to sign and share our action alert.

COVID-19 Funding Relief Updates

Prospects are dim for the much anticipated and needed fourth round of COVID-19 relief passing the Senate after evolving media reports of multiple negotiation breakdowns in the last two weeks. In the meanwhile, it is estimated that over 8 million individuals have slipped into poverty as federal relief has ceased.

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, urged reconsideration of the end of negotiations because of the acute needs of millions of Americans for immediate assistance. Senate Majority Leader McConnell has scheduled an October 19th vote on a "targeted" coronavirus relief bill when Senators are back in Washington, DC next week. It is still unclear what exactly will be in this package but we continue to advocate for the inclusion of immigrants and refugees and our priorities. JFI will continue to monitor this situation and will report back with updates to you.

Immigrant Detention Conditions and Ongoing Concerns and Advocacy for Humane Conditions, Releases and Human Dignity

The USCCB has been monitoring and engaging the Trump Administration regarding serious concerns over the dire health conditions present within the U.S. immigrant detention system. Fiscal Year 2020 has been the most deadly in 14 years in terms of the loss of immigrant detainees and staff, with 36 people dying. Additionally, due to COVID-19 there are additional reports of insufficient access to health care, protective equipment, and a lack of coordinated releases of COVID-19 infected detainees, COVID-19 vulnerable detainees as well as individuals who do not have to be detained under U.S. immigration law.

Bishop Mario Dorsonville, Chairman of the Committee on Migration has sent the Department of Homeland Security letters and requests for investigations. We continue to monitor the situation. Please email [email protected] if you have updates to report regarding first-hand knowledge of human rights violations and inhumane conditions in an immigrant detention facility near you. You can also learn more about immigrant detention and enforcement here.

Keep Hope Alive 2020 Virtual Benefit

Join us on October 29, 2020 at the virtual Archdiocese of Chicago's Keep Hope Alive Benefit "15 Years United for Immigrant Justice", featuring Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and Sister Norma Pimentel, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. This online event will take place at 6:30 PM CST and supports the Archdiocese of Chicago's Immigration Ministry and its local and national programs, including the immigrant leadership ministry Pastoral Migratoria. Click Here for FREE REGISTRATION! For more information please contact Mark Goebel at 312-534-8383 or [email protected]

15 Year Anniversary Webinar Series

Please join us for our next JFI 15 Year Anniversary webinar, The Role of Race in Immigration Policy, on October 21, 2020 at 2 PM ET.

This workshop will examine the role that race has played in the formation of migration policy in both an historical and contemporary context. It will also look closely at the Church's teaching on race, particularly as understood through the recently issued pastoral letter, Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, A Pastoral Letter Against Racism, and examine the Church's engagement on this issue.

Speakers will include:

Todd Scribner, Moderator, USCCB/MRS

Danielle Brown, USCCB/JPHD

Dylan Corbett, Hope Border Institute

Abraham Joven, The Diocese of San Bernardino

Julia Young, The Catholic University of America

A recording of the past webinars in the JFI webinar series are now available on our webinar page. You can register here for the upcoming JFI 15 Year Anniversary webinars.

Mark Your Calendars! National Migration Week 2021 Is Moving! September 20-26, 2021

For nearly forty years, National Migration Week (NMW) has been celebrated the week after the Epiphany in January. One of the primary reasons for celebrating NMW at this time was the timing of the Pope's Migration Day message, which was celebrated in mid-January.

In 2019, Pope Francis announced that that the World Day of Migrants and Refugees would henceforth be celebrated on the last Sunday of September. To continue aligning NMW with the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the Catholic Bishops of the United States recently moved National Migration Week to the last week in September. Given that we have already celebrated NMW 2020 in January 2020, National Migration Week 2021 will be September 20 - 26, 2021, with the World Day of Migrants and Refugees taking place on Sunday the 26th.

More information about NMW, including next year's theme, and resources will be made available on our Justice for Immigrants website in the early Spring 2021. Stay tuned!

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Dialogue on the Pastoral Letter Against Racism - October 17, 2020 at 10 AM ET - Join us for a dialogue on the pastoral letter, Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, featuring Dr. Ansel Augustine, Executive Director of Cultural Diversity and Outreach and Juan Aznaran, Regional Coordinator of Youth Ministry from the Archdiocese of Washington. The dialogue will help deepen knowledge on fighting racism and defending the human dignity of all, while highlighting our responsibility to help overcome community challenges.
Join the Student/Farmworker Alliance 2020 Encuentro: Piecing Together Justice - October 17-18, 2020 - Young leaders of the Student/Farmworker Alliance have once again banded together to push forward a critical marker of the Campaign for Fair Food's yearly calendar: the annual SFA Encuentro gathering. At the Encuentro, young people from across the country will gather virtually to learn new organizing skills, strategize with farmworker leaders of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and deepen their commitment to the movement for Fair Food. Register on the event website.
COVID-19 Immigrant Family Support Project - The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Human Services will provide direct assistance to immigrant families that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences. A one-time $1000 award per household will be dispersed to eligible applicants. Applicants may complete the form with the assistance of one of the organizations on our list. Applications due at 5 PM CDT on October 19th.

Children Seeking Asylum March - October 21, 2020 at 11 AM PT - Sponsored by Kino Border Initiative. Please see the event flyers for more information:
Centreville (VA) Immigration Forum's 10th Anniversary Celebration - October 22, 2020 at 6:30 PM ET - Please join a virtual celebration in honor of our 10th anniversary. Read the details about the celebration and register to attend on our website.
Franciscan Action Network Annual Benefit Celebration 2020: A Franciscan Moment - October 28, 2020 at 7 PM ET - This year of challenges for our nation is a call for Franciscan values. We are excited to lift up this moment and celebrate with all the vital witness and work we have accomplished together! Please join us for this virtual event.