JFI Week in Review - April 19th - 23rd, 2021

Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

Sección en español de la Semana en Revisión

La Administración Biden Mantiene el Reasentamiento de Refugiados en 15,000 por Ahora

El 16 de abril de 2021, la Administración Biden anunció que mantendrá el límite anual de reasentamiento de refugiados establecido por la Administración Trump en un mínimo histórico de 15,000. El presidente Biden prometió previamente aumentar el número de refugiados admitidos en el país para el resto del año fiscal 2021 a 62,500. La nueva Determinación Presidencial (PD por sus siglas en inglés) restableció las categorías de asignación basadas en la región, lo que significa que algunos refugiados que no puedan viajar en las categorías anteriores y más restrictivas podrán viajar este año fiscal.

Después del anuncio, la Administración indicó que publicará un PD actualizado el 15 de mayo o antes. La secretaria de prensa de la Casa Blanca, Jen Psaki, anunció el lunes que los vuelos de refugiados se han reanudado y que el presidente "sigue comprometido a cumplir el objetivo aspiracional de llegar a 125,000 refugiados para finales del próximo año fiscal."

En respuesta a estos eventos,el obispo Mario Dorsonville de Washington, presidente del Comité de Migración de la USCCB, expresó su decepción por el hecho de que el número de admisiones de refugiados para el año fiscal seguirá en un mínimo histórico, pero expresó su agradecimiento por el hecho de que una serie de familias refugiadas perseguidas que no pudieron viajar previamente finalmente podrán reasentarse en los Estados Unidos. Vea la declaración completa del obispo Dorsonville.

Inmigración y Su Parroquia de abril (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 abril de 2021 incluye noticias sobre la situación en la frontera de los EE.UU. y México, actualizaciones sobre Pastoral Migratoria Nacional y eventos e iniciativos diferentes en las diócesis que son parte de Pastoral Migratoria, y recursos sobre la carta encíclica Fratelli Tutti del Papa Francisco y recursos acerca de derechos laborales. 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

Biden Administration Keeps Refugee Resettlement at 15,000 for Now

On April 16, 2021, the Biden Administration announced that it will keep the annual refugee resettlement cap set by the Trump Administration at a historic low of 15,000. President Biden previously promised to raise the number of refugees admitted into the country for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2021 to 62,500. The new Presidential Determination (PD) did reestablish the region-based allocation categories, which means that some refugees unable to travel under the previous, more restrictive categories will be allowed to travel this fiscal year.

After the announcement, the Administration indicated that it will release an updated
PD on or before May 15, 2021. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced on Monday that refugee flights have resumed, and the President "remains committed to pursuing the aspirational goal of reaching 125,000 refugees by the end of the next fiscal year."

In response to these events,Bishop Mario Dorsonville, chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Migration, expressed disappointment that the refugee admissions number for the fiscal year will continue to be at a historic low, but conveyed appreciation that a number of persecuted refugee families who could not previously travel will finally be permitted to resettle in the United States. View Bishop Dorsonville's full statement.

Updates on Unaccompanied Children and Border Enforcement

The federal government is still struggling to move unaccompanied children from the custody of Homeland Security to that of Health and Human Services (HHS) within 72 hours, and thousands of children remain in CBP facilities well beyond that timeframe. However, progress is being made. As of April 20th, there were 2,718 children in CBP custody and 20,544 unaccompanied children in HHS custody; 335 children were discharged from HHS that same day. According to reports, the daily number of dis-charges from HHS falls within a range of 200-400. The number of children in CBP custody is now less than half the number seen at the end of March.

CBP has also released its enforcement statistics for March. These show that 101,897 migrants were expelled at the southwest border under Title 42, up from 71,948 in February. View CBP's press release here.

Solidarity with Seafarers as Key Essential Workers

Each year, the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking (CCOAHT) launches a campaign to raise awareness of forced labor in the fishing industry. This year, due to the global pandemic, a new humanitarian crisis has emerged that is severely impacting all men and women who work at sea. Thus, in 2021, the members of CCOAHT-together with Stella Maris and the Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America (AOS-USA)-are urging Catholics and all people of good will to pay witness to the life of the seafarer and to leverage their voices as community members and consumers to uphold the safety and labor rights of one of the world's most invisible groups of essential workers.

Please join JFI in advocating for seafarers through prayer, education, and action.

Also, we invite you to sign the online petition designed by CCOAHT member U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking in urging Walmart, one of the largest retailers in the U.S. to sign the #NeptuneDeclaration, which would help protect sea-farers who are essential to their ongoing business. For more information, check out the International Catholic Migration Commission's publication on this critical issue.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Washington State COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund. If you're an immigrant experiencing hard times because of COVID-19 and aren't eligible for federal financial relief or unemployment insurance, this fund is for you. Applications will open once again from April 21 to May 21, 2021,on a first-come-first-served basis, prioritizing those in greatest need. Apply for the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund and receive up to a $1,000 one-time direct payment per individual. Learn more and apply online or by calling 1-844-724-3737
Catholic Archdiocese of New York Virtual Conversation: Black Lives Matter: Question or Statement?, April 23, 2021, at 7 PM ET. The Archdiocese's Cultural Diversity Apostolate will host this timely discussion. RSVP in advance.
Diocese of Arlington (VA) Festival, April 24, 2021, starting at 3:30 PM. Bring your family and join Bishop Michael Burbidge for this diocesan-wide celebration of our Catholic faith and love of the Lord, including a Sunday Vigil Mass celebrated by Bishop Burbidge, and a keynote by Joel De Loera, new director of the Spanish Apostolate. Dinner, ice cream, and an event t-shirt will be provided to all participants. Find out more and register today.

Catholic Labor Network: Workers' Memorial Day Mass, April 28, 2021, at 2 PM ET. The labor movement marks April 28 each year as Workers' Memorial Day. The Catholic Labor Network will honor the day by live-streaming a memorial Mass for fallen workers during the pandemic. Fr. Sinclair Oubre (Seafarers Union) will be our celebrant; Fr. Ty Hullinger (Archdiocese of Baltimore) will offer the homily. Click here for the livestream link.

CLINIC Webinar: Dismantling MPP Moving Forward: Lessons Learned from Working with Detained People and Formerly Separated Families, April 30, 2021, at 12 PM ET. In this FREE webinar, learn about how our border communities and partners are actively reshaping the way we welcome asylum seekers at the border with dignity. This webinar will provide concrete ideas for how your program can respond to the need for legal services in your community. Learn more and register.

Pax Christi USA Nonviolence Training, May 1, 2021, at 11 AM ET. Register for this virtual training designed for supporters and friends of peace. This Zoom session will focus on "Bystander Intervention Skills Training."
International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) Vacancy. ICMC's
Brussels office is looking to hire a Senior Rural Integration Project Manager. Application deadline: May 3, 2021. See this announcement and others on ICMC's website.