JFI Week in Review - May 17th - 21st, 2021

Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

Sección en español de la Semana en Revisión

Reflexionando sobre los Primeros 100 Días de la Administración Biden

Seguir las recomendaciones anteriores a la Administración y al Congreso, JFI ha creado un documento que describe el progreso de la Administración en temas relacionados con la migración y destaca las acciones que todavía se requieren para mejorar el sistema de inmigración.

Actualización sobre la Frontera y los Niños no Acompañados

El Servicio de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP por sus siglas en inglés) ha publicado su actualización operativa para el mes de abril. Informa que los encuentros de niños no acompañados y menores solteros del Triángulo Norte a lo largo de la frontera suroeste han disminuido en un 12% desde marzo de 2021. Mientras tanto, el número total de personas encontradas ha aumentado un 3%. Los adultos solteros continúan constituyendo la mayoría de esos encuentros.

El 13 de mayo de 2021, el Secretario de Seguridad Nacional Alejandro Mayorkas testificó ante el Comité de Seguridad Nacional y Asuntos Gubernamentales del Senado sobre las acciones del Departamento para abordar a los niños no acompañados en la frontera. El Secretario Mayorkas describió los esfuerzos del Departamento para transferir rápidamente a los niños fuera de la custodia del CBP y a la custodia del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS).

Estos esfuerzos han resultado en una disminución dramática de la cantidad de tiempo que los niños no acompañados pasan en las instalaciones del CBP. Durante la audiencia, el Secretario Mayorkas reconoció informes de que la implementación de la política del Título 42 ha causado que muchas familias "se separen" en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México. Se estima que agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza se han encontrado con más de 2,100 menores no acompañados que se cree que formaron parte de una unidad familiar. Actualmente, el Título 42 sigue vigente y la Administración no ha discutido los planes de rescisión. Por ahora, casi 20,000 niños migrantes están bajo custodia de HHS.

Día Mundial del Refugiado en 20 de junio de 2021

El Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados estima que veintiséis millones de refugiados han sido desplazados por la fuerza de sus hogares debido al "miedo a ser perseguidos por razones de raza, religión, nacionalidad, pertenencia a un grupo social en particular o opinión política". El 20 de junio celebramos el Día Mundial del Refugiado, que se creó hace dos décadas para aumentar la conciencia sobre la situación de los refugiados en todo el mundo.

En preparación para la celebración del próximo mes, por favor visite nuestro sitio web del Dia Mundial del Refugiado de Justicia para los Inmigrantes y utilice los recursos disponibles para planificar su propio evento y para aprender sobre lo que viene.

Por favor, también explore un proyecto innovador en el que la USCCB/MRS participa en con la Oficina de Vida Religiosa de la Universidad de Princeton, el Proyecto de Religión y Reasentamiento, que examina el papel que la religión desempeña en la vida de los refugiados, cómo informa sus experiencias, y cómo puede ayudar y obstaculizar su proceso de integración una vez que llegan a los Estados Unidos.

Inmigración y Su Parroquia de mayo (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 mayo 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,detalles sobre la Semana Nacional de la Migración 202, recursos sobre la encíclica Fratelli Tutti del Papa Francisco y recursos acerca de la salud mental. 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

Reflecting on the First 100 Days of the Biden Administration

Following up on previous recommendations to the Administration and Congress, JFI has created a document that outlines the Administration's progress on migration-related issues and highlights actions that are still required to improve the immigration system.

Update on the Border and Unaccompanied ChildrenAppropriations

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released its operational update for the month of April. It reports that encounters of unaccompanied children and single minors from the Northern Triangle along the southwest border have dropped by 12% since March 2021. Meanwhile, the total number of persons encountered has increased by 3%. Single adults continue to make up the majority of those encounters.

On May 13, 2021, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on the Department's actions to address unaccompanied children at the border. Secretary Mayorkas described the Department's efforts to quickly transfer children out of CBP custody and into custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These efforts have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the amount of time unaccompanied children are spending in CBP facilities. During the hearing, Secretary Mayorkas acknowledged reports that implementation of the Title 42 policy has led many families to "self-separate" at the U.S.-Mexico border. It is estimated that Border Patrol agents have encountered more than 2,100 unaccompanied minors who are believed to have been part of a family unit. Currently, Title 42 remains in place and the Administration has not discussed plans for rescission. As of today, almost 20,000 migrant children are in HHS custody.

Status of Title 42 and New Resource

On May 13, 2021, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a hearing with the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Tae Johnson. The Acting Director stated that the Administration is only expelling about 25% of family units under Title 42, though this conflicts with other statements made by the Administration. Additionally, the Acting Director insisted that Title 42 is critical for ICE to mitigate the threat of COVID-19, and added that the Administration is not likely to end the use of Title 42 voluntarily, instead suggesting that ongoing litigation could be the cause. A growing number of family units and, in more limited instances, single adults are being processed into the U.S. under individualized exemptions, based on vulnerability. However, the exemptions process remains highly unpredictable and inconsistent. The Administration is said to be working on a more formalized exemption process.

A new backgrounder on Title 42 has been added to the JFI website.

World Refugee Day on June 20, 2021

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that twenty six million refugees have been forcibly displaced from their homes because of a "well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion." On June 20, we celebrate World Refugee Day, which was created two decades ago to increase awareness about the situation of refugees around the world.

In preparation for the celebration next month, please visit our Justice for Immigrants' World Refugee Day website, and use the resources available to plan your own event and to keep track of what is upcoming.

Please also explore an innovative project that USCCB/MRS is engaged in with Princeton University's Office of Religious Life, The Religion and Resettlement Project, which examines the role that religion plays in the lives of refugees, how it informs their experiences, and how it can both help and hinder their integration process once they arrive in the United States.

World Refugee Day Webinar: Rebuilding Refugee Resettlement and Reestablishing U.S. Leadership

When: Thursday, June 3, at 2:00 PM Eastern

Link: Bit.ly/WRD_2021; Passcode: 093048

With the Biden Administration recently increasing the refugee admissions cap for Fiscal Year 2021, there is an urgent need to rebuild the program, reestablish U.S. moral leadership on refugee and humanitarian issues abroad, and open up opportunities to increase protection, promotion, and integration of refugees.In coordination with Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services, and the International Catholic Migration Commission, USCCB/MRS will be hosting a webinar for World Refugee Day to examine how this can be done effectively.

Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources

Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccine Site, May 22, 2021, at 9 AM-4PM in Chicago, IL. Click here to sign up or see the flyer below.

POWER Main Line Town Meeting, May 23, 2021, at 4 PM. Join JFI's interfaith partner in Philadelphia, POWER, for its next Main Line meeting (online). RSVP to participate.
Theology Uncorked Meet the Author Virtual Event with Todd Miller: Build Bridges Not Walls, May 24, 2021, at 6 PM. Todd Miller has researched and written about border issues for more than 15 years, and has lived both in Tucson and Oaxaca, Mexico. His work has appeared in the New York Times, The Nation, San Francisco Chronicle and more. No RSVP required; join via Zoom.

JustFaith Ministries is Hiring. We are looking for a Business Manager and a Development Director to help us grow our work of building a more just and peaceful world. Deadline is May 30, 2021.

St. James Cathedral (Seattle, WA) Immigrant Assistance: A New Way to Help Immigrants. We have always received specific requests for help from immigrants, such as temporary housing, a new bed, a ride to the doctor, help setting up a TV, clothing donations, etc. To better connect with people who can help, we have set up a "St. James Immigrant Assistance" group on the online platform, GroopIt. On this platform, we share immigration-related news and events as well as requests from immigrants that our GroopIt community might be able to fill. Email Christopher Koehler with any questions or to join the forum.

Volunteer with the Centreville (VA) Immigration Forum. There are many
ways! We'd be happy to hear from you so we can work together to find a match for your interests, skills and talents. Our bimonthly new volunteer orientations are a great way to meet the staff and hear more about our current volunteer needs. Fill out our Volunteer Intake Form, include your resume, and we'll reach out to you with information about the next information session.
Employment Opportunity with Pax Christi USA. Pax Christi USA, located in Washington, D.C., has an opening on staff for the position of Development Director, who will strategize and oversee all aspects of Pax Christi USA fundraising and development in collaboration with the Executive Director. The position is full-time and can be done from our home office in Washington, D.C., or remotely.

CLINIC Webinar Series: Citizenship and Naturalization, June 8-29, 2021. This four-part webinar series covers acquisition and derivation of citizenship and the requirements for naturalization. These include continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, civics and English-language requirements and exemptions, disability waivers, oath requirements and the application process. Throughout the series, participants will review both the law and procedure for acquisition, derivation and naturalization, including examination of primary and secondary sources and sample application forms. Learn more and register.

In Solidarity,

Tony Cube