JFI Week in Review - September 6th-10th, 2021 |
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JFI Colleagues,
Please see below for the latest updates from the JFI Campaign.
U.S. Bishops’ Migration Chairman and President of Catholic Charities USA Urge Humane Treatment of Haitians, Other Migrants
Over the last several weeks, there has been a substantial increase in the number of migrants present in the Del Rio Sector of the U.S.-Mexico border, roughly 145 miles west of San Antonio. The majority of these individuals are Haitian nationals. Videos and photographs from the region have depicted grim living conditions, as well as harrowing encounters between migrants and U.S. Border Patrol agents. In response to these events, Bishop Mario Dorsonville, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, and Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, issued a joint statement, calling “on the U.S. government to reassess its treatment of migrants in Del Rio and elsewhere along the U.S.-Mexico border, especially Haitians, who face life-threatening conditions if returned to Haiti and possible discrimination if expelled to third countries.”
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USCCB Commends Inclusion of Legalization Provisions in House Judiciary Committee Reconciliation Measure Prior to Negative Parliamentarian Ruling
On September 13, 2021, the House Committee on the Judiciary approved language it intended to be included in the forthcoming budget reconciliation bill that, if enacted, would provide legalization with a pathway to citizenship for millions of Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) beneficiaries, undocumented agricultural workers, and other undocumented essential workers. Shortly thereafter, Bishop Dorsonville issued a statement welcoming this action. This step by the House Judiciary Committee also followed a September 12 letter from Bishop Dorsonville endorsing the language on behalf of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration.
On September 19, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that the provisions proposed by the House Judiciary Committee did not comport with the requirements of the Senate’s Byrd Rule. Bishop Dorsonville sent a letter to congressional leadership on September 23 reaffirming the U.S. bishops’ support for legislation this year that would provide legalization with a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented members of our society. The Parliamentarian’s ruling is not the end of the road for such action to be included in the forthcoming budget reconciliation bill. Please stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks.
If you haven’t already, you can still view, complete, and share this JFI action alert related to the ongoing budget reconciliation efforts.
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House Passes Fiscal Year 2022 Continuing Resolution, Including Provisions Authorizing Resettlement Services for Afghans Parolees
On September 21, 2021, the House passed H.R. 5305, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act. A summary of the bill is available here. This continuing resolution (CR), if passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President, would provide interim funding for the federal government for the first days of Fiscal Year 2022, as Congress works to pass full appropriations for the new fiscal year. If the CR is not passed by September 30, a partial shutdown of the federal government would ensue. Together with Bishop David Malloy, chairman of the USCCB's Committee on International Justice and Peace, and Sean Callahan, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Bishop Dorsonville sent a letter to congressional leadership on September 17, detailing the USCCB and CRS’ requests for the continuing resolution. Among those asks contained in the letter that were also included in H.R. 5305 is authorization for Afghan parolees to receive the same resettlement services and other benefits provided to traditional refugees under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Most Afghans currently being resettled in the U.S. are entering the country with some form of immigration parole, rather than formal refugee status.
National Migration Week 2021
If you haven’t already, you can view the USCCB’s statement for National Migration Week (NMW) here. This week will conclude this Sunday, September 26, with the Church’s celebration across the globe of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
It’s been wonderful to see so many events throughout the country commemorating NMW. Please send information about any NMW-inspired events you hosted this week to [email protected] so we can recognize your efforts. Your support is what makes this such a special and successful week every year.
Reminder: Mass for Migrants and Refugees to be Celebrated in Washington, D.C., on September 26, 2021
On behalf of Bishop Dorsonville and Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, V.F., rector of the cathedral, we invite you to join us for Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., on September 26, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. to pray for the migrant and refugee communities of the United States and across the world. Bishop Dorsonville also asks for your help in sharing this information with others so they can attend and join in prayer for these communities. All are welcome. Please see the event flyers in English or Spanish for more information.
Voices of Afghanistan
You have heard the stories of Afghans through media outlets. Here is an opportunity to hear their stories first hand.
In partnership with Princeton University’s Office of Religious Life, USCCB/MRS is engaged in the Religion and Resettlement Project, which aims to better understand and respond to the role that religion plays in the lives of refugees as they resettle and integrate into the United States. Central to this effort is an oral history project that traces the experiences of refugees and those who help them.
Voices of Afghanistan features oral history interviews with Afghan refugees who shared their experiences with us, including reflections on work with the U.S. military, gender in Afghanistan, religious identities and persecution, conditions of their families in Afghanistan, resettling in the U.S., employment, education, and much more. Some arrived many years ago and some arrived more recently.
Federal Judge Blocks Use of Title 42 Against Families
On September 16, 2021, a federal district court blocked the Biden Administration from invoking the public health authority known as Title 42 against migrant families with children but stayed the order for 14 days. The Administration has since appealed the court’s decision.
August Operational Update Released by CBP
On September 15, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released its operational update for the month of August. The update provides a number of statistics related to encounters by CBP of migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border. This includes discussion of the higher-than-normal rate of reencounters largely stemming from Title 42 (i.e., migrants reenter the U.S. after being expelled to Mexico within the preceding 12 months), which is causing the total number of encounters to far exceed the number of unique encounters.
ICE Announces New Online Scheduling Tool for Noncitizen Check-In Appointments
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has launched an online scheduling tool to allow individuals to book required check-in appointments with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Prior to this, individuals had to book appointments by phone or in person. The new online tool is accessible in English and Spanish.
Welcome.us Launches as National Effort to Welcome and Support Afghan Families
Welcome.us is a nongovernmental, nonpartisan initiative designed to engage people across the U.S. in welcoming our Afghan brothers and sisters. Bishop Mario Dorsonville, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, and Bill Canny, executive director of USCCB/MRS, are all members of the initiative’s National Welcome Council, and USCCB/MRS is a member of the Welcome Coalition.
Please check out other upcoming events, opportunities, and resources below the Spanish section.
Sección en Español
El Presidente de Migración de los Obispos de EE. UU. y el Presidente de Catholic Charities EE. UU. Instan a un Trato Humano para los Haitianos y Otros Migrantes
Durante las últimas semanas, ha habido un aumento sustancial en la cantidad de migrantes presentes en el sector de Del Rio de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México, aproximadamente a 145 millas al oeste de San Antonio. La mayoría de estas personas son ciudadanos haitianos. Los videos y fotografías de la región han mostrado condiciones de vida sombrías, así como encuentros desgarradores entre migrantes y agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza de EE. UU. En respuesta a estos eventos, el obispo Mario Dorsonville, presidente del Comité de Migración de la USCCB, y la hermana Donna Markham, OP, PhD, presidenta y directora ejecutiva de Catholic Charities USA, emitieron una declaración conjunta, pidiendo “al gobierno de EE. UU. que reevalúe su tratamiento de los migrantes en Del Río y en otros lugares a lo largo de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México, especialmente los haitianos, que enfrentan condiciones potencialmente mortales si regresan a Haití y una posible discriminación si son expulsados a terceros países.”
Alerta de Acción para la Reforma Migratoria
ICE Anuncia Nueva Herramienta de Programación en Línea para Citas de Registrarse de No Ciudadanos
El Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE por sus siglas en inglés) ha lanzado una herramienta de programación en línea para permitir que las personas reserven las citas de registro requeridas con ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Antes de esto, las personas tenían que reservar citas por teléfono o en persona. La nueva herramienta en línea está disponible en inglés y español.
Semana Nacional de la Migración 2021: 20-26 de Septiembre
La Iglesia celebra la Jornada Mundial del Migrante y del Refugiado desde 1914. Es siempre una ocasión para expresar nuestra preocupación por la diferentes categorías de personas vulnerables en movimiento; para rezar por ellos mientras enfrentan muchos desafíos; y para sensibilizar sobre las oportunidades que ofrecen las migraciones. ¡No es demasiado tarde para participar! Para mirar los volantes de los eventos programados para la Semana Nacional de la Migración 2021 en diferentes diócesis siga este enlace: eventos SNM 2021.
Reserve la fecha: Recaudación de fondos en línea de la Arquidiócesis de Chicago y Celebración del Ministerio de Inmigración y el Ministerio de Migración Nacional 29 de Octubre
Marque su calendario el 29 de octubre de 2021 para el evento virtual “Mantén Viva la Esperanza”, a beneficio del Ministerio de Inmigración y Pastoral Migratoria Nacional de la Arquidiócesis de Chicago, con el Cardenal Blase J. Cupich, arzobispo de Chicago. Este evento tendrá lugar a las 7:30 p.m. CST, 8:30 p.m. EST, 5:30 P.M. PST, y se llevará a cabo en línea nuevamente este año para garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar de todos. Para oportunidades de patrocinio, comuníquese con Mark Goebel al 312-534-8383 o [email protected].
¿Tiene actualizaciones o recursos en español que desea compartir?
Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources
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St. Vincent de Paul (Kent, WA) Annual Walk for Friends of the Poor: In Solidarity with the Immigrant, September 25, 2021, at 8:30 AM PT. The walk starts at Holy Spirit Catholic Parish in Kent, WA, with prayer and poster preparations and ends at Centro Rendu of St. Vincent de Paul in downtown Kent. Here is the event flyer:
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Kino Border Initiative (KBI) and Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN): Solidarity with Migrants this Fall, September 25, 2021. Inspired by migrants organizing to save asylum in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, the ISN has joined the call of KBI and #SaveAsylum coalition to come together in solidarity this Fall to call for the restoration of asylum protections. If you are near the border, you can participate in Nogales on Sept. 25th for the main event, or you can organize a solidarity event in your community on that day. Learn more on the event website.
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Washington State Department of Commerce Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Program. The state’s COVID-19 utility moratorium ends on September 30, 2021. State leaders and utility operators estimate over half a million households may have overdue bills that could result in their services being shut off. If you are a Washington State resident and need help with utility bills, contact LIHEAP before September 30 for possible assistance: [email protected] or 360-725-2857.
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CLINIC, Migration Policy Institute, and Georgetown University Law Center’s 18th Annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference (Virtual), September 27-28, 2021. Join top experts at the 2021 Immigration Law and Policy Conference, as they analyze where we are, eight months into the Biden administration, on immigration and related issues, shine a light on crucial, often overlooked topics, and share visions of the future and how immigration law and policy can respond to our changing world in a manner that is humane and in the national interest. Register now for this upcoming event.
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POWER Philadelphia Climate Justice and Jobs Monthly Meeting, September 30, 2021, at 7:30 PM ET. Learn more about our latest campaigns and find out how you can get involved in transforming your local neighborhood through interfaith power. Register here.
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Pax Christi USA Study Circles: The Risk of the Cross: Living Gospel Nonviolence in the Nuclear Age, October 5, 2021, at 7 PM ET. The purpose of the Study Circles is to explore, in the context of prayer and reflection, what radical discipleship means in the Nuclear Age and to deepen our faith commitment to Jesus’s command of nonviolence and resistance to idolatry and empire. Read more and register for the Study Circles.
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Pax Christi USA Study Circles: The Risk of the Cross: Living Gospel Nonviolence in the Nuclear Age, October 5, 2021, at 7 PM ET. The purpose of the Study Circles is to explore, in the context of prayer and reflection, what radical discipleship means in the Nuclear Age and to deepen our faith commitment to Jesus’s command of nonviolence and resistance to idolatry and empire. Read more and register for the Study Circles.
In solidarity,
Tony Cube
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