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JFI Week in Review - April 5th - 9th, 2021
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Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,
Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.
Sección en español de la Semana en Revisión
Declaración Conjunta de los Obispos Católicos sobre la Frontera entre Estados Unidos
y México
El 1 de abril de 2021, los obispos de diócesis ubicadas en la frontera entre Estados
Unidos y el Norte de México emitieron un comunicado conjunto sobre la situación
en esa región. En su declaraci [[link removed]]ó
[[link removed]]n
[[link removed]],
los obispos declararon:
Como obispos de los Estados Unidos y de México en la frontera, diariamente somos
testigos del drama que enfrentan nuestras hermanas y hermanos migrantes. Para la
mayoría de ellos, la decisión de migrar no está motivada por la indiferencia hacia
su patria o la búsqueda de prosperidad económica; es una cuestión de vida o muerte.
La situación es aún más difícil para los niños.
Desafíos como estos requieren soluciones humanitarias. Sin duda, las naciones tienen
derecho a mantener sus fronteras. Esto es vital para su soberanía y su autodeterminación.
Al mismo tiempo, todas las naciones comparten la responsabilidad de preservar la
vida humana y proporcionar una inmigración segura, ordenada y humana, incluido
el derecho de asilo.
Por eso renovamos un llamado a nuestros gobiernos, a los líderes políticos y a la
sociedad civil para que trabajen juntos a fin de acoger, proteger, promover e integrar
a los migrantes de acuerdo con su dignidad intrínsica, y a trabajar con otros países
para eliminar las causas que obligan a una migración peligrosa e irregular, procurando
soluciones a largo plazo. . .
La Pascua de Resurrección

El obispo Mario Dorsonvillle de la Arquidiócesis de Washington escribió en El Pregonero
(el periódico en español de la Arquidiócesis de Washington) sobre la celebración
de la Pascua y cómo la celebración no es solo recordar un acontecimiento histórico
que está narrado en los Evangelios, sino que vivirlo con nuestros ojos puestos en
la fe. También el obispo dice, "les invito queridos hermanos y hermanas para que
durante esta cincuentena Pascual podamos encontrar el tiempo y el espacio para
orar a Dios, pedir su auxilio y ratificar el regalo de Su Espíritu quien con sus
dones nos capacita para entregar-nos a los otros a imagen de Cristo, para servirles,
ayudarles y ser los instrumentos en sus vidas de recon-ciliación y vuelta a la amistad
con Dios". Para leer todo del mensaje del obispo puede visitar este enlace [[link removed]]
aquí.

¿Tiene actualizaciones o recursos en español que desea compartir? Favor de enviarlos
a Sarah Hoff [mailto:[email protected]] y nosotros los promovemos.
English Language Section
Joint Statement of Catholic Bishops on U.S.-Mexico Border
On April 1, 2021, the chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Migration and the bishops
along the border of the United States and Northern Mexico issued a joint statement
on the situation at the border. In their statement [[link removed]],
the bishops declared:
As U.S. and Mexican bishops along the border, we witness daily the dilemma that
our migrant sisters and brothers face. For most, the decision to migrate is not
motivated by an indifference toward their homeland or the pursuit of economic prosperity;
it is a matter of life or death. The situation is all the more difficult for children.
Challenges such as these require humanitarian solutions. Undoubtedly, nations have
the right to maintain their borders. This is vital to their sovereignty and self-determination.
At the same time, there is a shared responsibility of all nations to preserve human
life and provide for safe, orderly, and humane immigration, including the right
to asylum.
For that reason, we renew our appeal to our governments, to political leaders, and
civil society, that they work together to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate
migrants in accordance with their intrinsic dignity, as well as work with other
countries in the region to eliminate conditions that compel their citizens to resort
to dangerous and irregular migration, producing long-term solutions. . .
Update on the Southern Border and Unaccompanied Children
Unaccompanied children continue to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border in large numbers.
Coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Health
and Human Services has opened emergency intake sites in several cities around the
country in order to move children out of the custody of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection as quickly as possible. The government is continuing to evaluate new
sites. For more updates on the situation at the southern border, related policies,
and unaccompanied children, please see our briefing document [[link removed]].
Below is a non-exhaustive list of Catholic organizations that are working directly
with migrants at the border and in facilities for unaccompanied children, along
with links for making donations to assist them in their efforts:

*
Catholic Charities USA [[link removed]]
*
Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley [[link removed]]
(also has an Amazon Wish List [[link removed]])
*
Catholic Charities Diocese of Laredo [[link removed]]
*
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio [[link removed]]
*
Catholic Charities Dallas [[link removed]]
*
Diocese of El Paso: Border Refugee Assistance Fund [[link removed]]
*
Annunciation House of El Paso [[link removed]]
*
Hope Border Institute [[link removed]]
*
Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona: Casa Alitas Program [[link removed]]
*
Kino Border Initiative [[link removed]]
*
Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexico [[link removed]]
*
Diocese of San Angelo Immigration Services [[link removed]]
*
Catholic Charities of San Diego [[link removed]]
*
Catholic Charities San Bernardino and Riverside Counties [[link removed]]
*
Catholic Charities of Los Angeles [[link removed]]
In addition to monetary contributions, many of the above organizations are also
accepting donations of certain items, such as clothing, hygiene products, and paper
goods. For information about where and how to send these items, please see the organization's
website or contact them directly. Those who are interested in volunteering and located
near an influx facility/intake site for unaccompanied children are encouraged to
contact their nearest Catholic Charities agency for volunteer opportunities.
Refugee Update
Refugee Council USA and executives of the national refugee resettlement agencies,
including USCCB/MRS Executive Director Bill Canny, sent a letter [[link removed]]
to President Biden urging him to sign the revised Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Presidential
Determination (PD) as soon as possible. The Administration has still not signed
the revised PD, which would increase the FY 2021 refugee admissions goal from 15,000
to 62,500 and would restore the regional allocation framework.
During the first six months of FY 2021, an estimated 2,050 refugees were admitted
to the U.S. and the top five destination states were California, Texas, New York,
Illinois, and Kentucky. An estimated 2,045 Afghan and Iraqi special immigrants were
admitted and the top five destination states were California, Texas, Virginia, Washington,
and Maryland.
Immigration Reform Efforts in Congress
Congress returns from recess next week. USCCB/MRS is monitoring a number of immigration-related
bills in the House and Senate, including the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R.
6) [[link removed]]
and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 1603) [[link removed]],
both of which were passed in the House on March 18. More information will be provided
as it becomes available, including potential advocacy opportunities.
Additionally, Congress is expected to begin moving forward with a second reconciliation
package primarily focused on infrastructure, which is being referred to as the American
Jobs Plan. Provisions unrelated to infrastructure could also be included, such as
those relating to immigration. Reconciliation is an optional part of the annual
budget process. Only a simple majority is required in the House and Senate to pass
a reconciliation bill. However, special rules apply. For example, only provisions
that impact spending or revenues can be included. Please stay tuned over the coming
weeks for updates on the reconciliation process.
Appropriations
The Administration sent Congress its Fiscal Year 2022 Discretionary Request [[link removed]],
also known as the "skinny budget." This is a very high-level view of the budget,
and the full budget of the Administration will likely come out in May. Nonetheless,
three requests were specific enough to signal the Administration's intentions concerning
certain migration related programs and policies. It requested $4.3 billion for the
Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), more than double the amount appropriated to
ORR in FY 2021. The Administration also requested $345 million in direct funding
for USCIS to enable them to ramp up annual resettlement admissions to up to 125,000
refugees in FY 2022 and also reduce the asylum and naturalization backlogs. USCIS
generally operates on revenue collected through immigration processing fees. Finally,
the administration requested $861 million to address root causes in Central America
of forced displacement and migration.
Webinar: Immigration Challenges and Choices: People, Principles, and Policies [[link removed]]
USCCB/MRS has been working with Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social
Thought and Public life to pull together a public dialogue that will bring together
leaders from the border, policy circles, the Catholic Church, and the immigrant
community to examine some pressing issues related to migration. The event will take
place on Thursday, April 15, 2021 from 12:30-1:30 PM ET. RSVP [[link removed]]
on the webinar's website. Please join us and help to spread the word on this informative
session.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities

* Feria de la Salud Community Health Fair, April 11, 2021. Come to the Saint Peter
and Paul Church (738 S Saint Clair St, Toledo, OH 43609) for your free healthcare
checkup. Get your BP, DM, cholesterol, and more checked. Also come by to learn some
information about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Call (567) 702-0040 for more
information.
* Franciscan Action Network: DACA Sesion de Información en Español, 14 de Abril,
2021, 7 PM ET. Registrarse aqui [[link removed]].
* Catholic Charities USA Webinar: Effective Strategies to Promote Domes-tic Abuse
Awareness in Parishes, April 14, 2021 at 3 PM ET. Domestic abuse has risen during
the pandemic; Catholic Charities agencies and parishes, working together, can offer
hope, help, and healing by implementing practical strategies to address domestic
abuse, ranging from increased parishioner awareness to organization of an in-depth
ministry. This webinar will feature speakers who will present methods that have
worked in over 50 parishes and will answer questions about developing a local response.
A brief overview of Catholic teaching as it relates to domestic abuse will be included.
Register [[link removed]]
here [[link removed]]
.
* Catholic Relief Services Virtual Presentation: Central America and Migration:
Addressing Push Factors and Promoting Rootedness, April 15, 2021 at 3 PM ET. As
the Biden administration develops a strategy to confront the instability, violence,
and economic insecurity that drive migrants from Central America, there are opportunities
to learn from past, and ongoing development initiatives, that address push factors
and promote opportunities and desire to live and thrive in one's home community.
Join policy experts in this discussion to learn more. RSVP required [[link removed]].

* Ecumenical Advocacy Days (Virtual): Imagine! God's Earth and People Restored,
April 18-21, 2021: Space is still available for this annual interreligious training
and advocacy opportunity. Sign-up [[link removed]]
now.

* Catholic Labor Network Panel Discussion: Ministering to Workers in the Time of
COVID-19, April 20, 2021 at Noon ET. Listen to testimony taken from workers affected
by the pandemic as clergy and laity jointly explore its implications for ministry.
Register [[link removed]]
in advance.

* Catholic Charities - Archdiocese New York: Volunteer Immigration Court Help Desk.
Every month we assist a group of unrepresented respondents in completing their Immigration
Forms, which we will then submit to the government on their behalf. This fully remote
position requires a computer and cell phone. See our website to volunteer [[link removed]].

*
Catholic Volunteer Network (CVN) promotes full-time domestic and inter-national
faith-based volunteer service opportunities for people of all ages, back-grounds,
and skills. As the leading membership organization of Christian volun-teer and mission
programs, CVN supports and enhances the work of its 185 members through volunteer
recruitment, training and resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy. Learn
more [[link removed]].
In solidarity,
Tony Cube
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3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, DC 20017
Phone: (202) 541-3165 Fax: (202) 722-8711
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