JFI Week in Review - March 22nd - 28th, 2021

Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

Sección en español de la Semana en Revisión

La Cámara de Representantes Aprueba Proyectos de Ley Relacionados con la Inmigración

El 18 de marzo de 2021, la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos aprobó dos proyectos de ley que crearían un camino a la ciudadanía para las personas que llegaron a los Estados Unidos cuando eran niños, para los beneficiarios de la Salida Forzosa Diferida (DED por sus siglas en inglés) y el Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS por sus siglas en inglés), y para los trabajadores agrícolas migrantes. Si el proyecto de ley es aprobado por el Senado, la Dream and Promise Act de 2021 y la Farm Workforce Modernization Act de 2021 proporcionarían un camino a la ciudadanía para aproximadamente 5 millones de personas.

La USCCB publicó una declaración en la que recibió de buena manera la acción de la Cámara de Representantes e instó a una "acción rápida del Senado".

La Situación Actual en la Frontera entre los Estados Unidos y México

La USCCB/MRS continúa monitoreando los cambios en la frontera sur de los Estados Unidos, incluyendo cambios en la política del gobierno de los Estados Unidos y otras condiciones relacionadas. Por favor, espere una actualización de esta situación la próxima semana.

Inmigración y Su Parroquia de marzo (cortesía de Pastoral Migratoria Nacional)

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. Este boletín está dividido en quince secciones: Noticias, Eventos, Recursos para Pastoral Migratoria, Recursos para la Pastoral Migratoria y la Comunidad, y El Video del Papa.

Nuestra edición de marzo de 2021 incluye noticias sobre la Ley de Ciudadanía de los EE.UU. de 2021 y actualizaciones sobre TPS (Estatus de Protección Temporal), una serie de recursos sobre la Cuaresma y recursos sobre la carta encíclica Fratelli Tutti del Papa Francisco, e información sobre eventos virtuales. Si desea recibir Inmigración y Su Parroquia por favor regístrese utilizando este enlace.

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

English Language Section

Ongoing Situation at the U.S.-Mexico Border

USCCB/MRS is continuing to monitor developments at the southern border of the United States, including changes in U.S. government policy and related conditions. Please expect an update on this situation next week.

House Passes Immigration-Related Bills

On March 18, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills that would create a pathway to citizenship for individuals who came to the United States as children, Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and migrant farmworkers. If passed by the Senate, the Dream and Promise Act of 2021 and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 would provide a pathway to citizenship for approximately 5 million people.

The USCCB released a statement welcoming the action from the House and urging "swift Senate action."

Refugee Update

While the Biden Administration has proposed a revised Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 refugee goal of 62,500-with a return to a regional refugee framework-and has done the required consultation with Congress concerning the program, it has not finalized the new goal. That has led to over 700 cancellations of refugee flights to the U.S. and reduced arrivals. According to State Department sources, 1,779 refugees have been admitted to the United States in the first five months of FY 2021. The top nations of origin have been the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, Iraq, and Burma (Myanmar). The top states of refugee arrival have been California, Texas, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. An estimated 1,838 Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrants have also been admitted, with the largest numbers arriving in California, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Maryland.

Reopening of Influx Facilities for Unaccompanied Children

Last month, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement (HHS/ORR) announced that it would once again be operating influx facilities in Carrizo Springs, Texas, and Homestead, Florida, to care for unaccom-panied immigrant children taken into U.S. government custody. Since then, additional facilities have been opened in Pecos, Ft. Bliss, Midland, and Dallas, Texas, as well as San Diego, California, and more sites are being evaluated for potential use by HHS/ORR. To learn more about emergency influx facilities, read our backgrounder.

USCCB/MRS recognizes that emergency influx facilities are not an ideal or preferred setting for unaccompanied children. However, USCCB/MRS also recognizes that placement in an HHS/ORR influx facility is preferable to extended detention in a holding facility operated by Customs and Border Protection. For these reasons, USCCB/MRS continues to advocate for stringent guardrails for the safety of immigrant children in U.S. government custody, as well as robust oversight policies.

Along with the overall situation at the border, USCCB/MRS is tracking the issue of unaccompanied children closely. For more information on unaccompanied children, please view our resources on the Justice for Immigrants website.

USCCB/MRS Vacancy Announcement

After more than four years as MRS' director of policy, Ashley Feasley has left the USCCB to take on more challenges in the immigration space. We are now accepting applications for the position of director, Office of Migration Policy. Please see the announcement and share the information with interested candidates.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Job Announcement: National Leadership Formation Coordinator - National Pastoral Migratoria. Pastoral Migratoria seeks a National Leadership Formation Coordinator to coordinate the development and implementation of the leadership formation program (in-person and virtual) for National Pastoral Migratoria in immigrant parish communities across the U.S. Pastoral Migratoria is an immigrant leadership ministry of service, justice, and accompaniment in parish communities. The National Leadership Formation Coordinator will ensure high-quality, culturally sensitive leadership development, training, and continuous formation to lay parish leaders at pilot diocesan sites. Learn more.
Job Announcement: Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach. The Center for Advocacy and Outreach is the U.S. Region of the Missionary Society of St. Columban's national office for Justice, Peace and Ecology Advocacy and Advocacy Leadership Programs. We seek a bilingual (Spanish and English) individual who is able to multitask in a work environment that is community-centered and committed to racial and gender equity and ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. While work may initially be remote, we are seeking someone who can work in our Washington, D.C. office. Deadline to apply is April 16, 2021.
Life, Young Latinos, and COVID-19: Where Do We Go From Here, March 30, 2021, at 7 PM (ET). A year after the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown the world, many are reflecting on the past year and where we go from here. For the diverse U.S. Latino community, the pandemic has had a pervasive and disproportionate impact with both familiar and unique challenges. This online discussion among four young Latino leaders will explore how the pandemic has affected them personally and how it has affected Latino communities more broadly. We hope you can join us.

Catholic Labor Network's News from the Farm Worker Movement, March 31, 2021, at 4 PM (ET). National Farm Workers Week 2021 is March 25-31. Largely immigrant and often undocumented, the men and women whose labor feeds us earn low wages for long hours of difficult, dangerous work. But all work has dignity, and the farmworkers' struggle for justice is deeply woven with activism by Catholics. Hear from Julie Taylor, executive director of the National Farm Workers Ministry, who will tell us about the difficult conditions faced by today's farmworkers and the many ways they have learned to organize and seek justice despite the challenges. Register now.

CLINIC Webinar: All About EADs, April 15, 2021, at 12 PM ET. Having an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is critical to immigrants, but it is not always easy to figure out who qualifies for one, how and when to apply, and when a fee is required. This webinar will cover categories of noncitizens eligible to apply for EADs, including asylum applicants, adjustment of status applicants, refugees, parolees, TPS holders, VAWA self-petitioners, U and T nonimmigrants, deferred action grantees, and others. Webinar registration is required.

Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) Virtual Advocacy Days, April 19-23, 2021. Join the USCCB with RCUSA for a week of advocacy and training. We now have the opportunity to rebuild stronger than ever-but we need your help. For this week in April, we ask our community members to join us in championing pro-refugee legislation and the funding and oversight to make it happen. Register here!

Lenten blessings,

Tony Cube