JFI Bi-Weekly Review - December 6th-17th, 2021

JFI Colleagues,

This is the last JFI Bi-Weekly Review for 2021 and we will resume this series in January 2022.

Please see below for the latest updates from the JFI Campaign.

Department of Homeland Security Request for Public Input

On December 9, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a request for recommendations from the public on how to “permanently protect against the prior administration’s practice of intentionally separating families at the border.” This input will help in the drafting of a report required by Executive Order 14011 (“Establishment of Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families”). While the Biden administration has made reunification of separated families a priority, it has also continued to deploy policies—such as Title 42 and Remain in Mexico—that aim to deter migration and limit due process.

Save the Date

Next JFI National Call is on Monday, January 17, 2022 at 2 PM Eastern / 11 AM Pacific. Zoom call information will be sent in early January.

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month: Learn How You Can Support the Church's Efforts to End Human Trafficking

Join us in commemorating National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month—decreed by Presidential Proclamation since 2010! We urge you to learn more and participate in the following anti-trafficking efforts:

Religious sisters have long been on the forefront when it comes to the fight against modern day slavery. Be sure to stay up to date on what the U.S. Catholic Sisters against Human Trafficking are doing to continue this effort. Consider becoming a member so that you can keep on top of new developments in this field.
See the Anti-Trafficking page of the JFI website. We encourage you to access our existing resources and learn more about what we will be working on moving forward.
Pray to end human trafficking.
Follow us on social media. During the month of January, we will be focusing on our anti-trafficking work and prevention resources. Please follow @MRSServes and @USCCBJFI.
February 8th is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was enslaved and received her freedom with the support of the Cannossian Sisters. The Catholic Church has designated her feast as the International Day of Prayer and Awarenss against Human Trafficking.
Please let us know if you are celebrating the feast day in any special way or if you have ideas for resources that might help you in the fight against human trafficking.

Reminder: Register for the 2022 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering

CCUSA is a proud sponsor of the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This year's event, "Justice at the Margins," will be held virtually from January 29 to February 1. Don't miss this transformative gathering of prayer, learning, and advocacy. This year's gathering will include:

Inspiring leading voices in the Church and society.
Workshops with policy experts and grassroots community leaders.
Resources from dozens of Catholic social ministry organizations.
Virtual advocacy visits with elected officials.
And much more.

The entire program will be offered bilingually (English and Spanish), and sign interpretation will be available. Special opportunities include the Diversity Outreach Initiative, the Young Leaders Initiative, and a new group registration option with discounted rates for groups of 10 or more. Click here to register or learn more. Scholarships are available to cover a portion of the registration fee.

Apply now. The application deadline is January 10, 2022.

Policy Update / Actualización de Política

We are thankful to the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) for its weekly Migration Update. Please visit their bilingual Migration Update page to stay up-to-date on recent migration policy updates.

View the December 14, 2021 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

NYC Council Granted over 800,000 Noncitizens the Right to Vote in Local Elections
DHS Requests Public Input on Preventing the Separation of Families at the Border
DHS FAMILY REUNIFICATION TASKFORCE VIDEO UPDATE
LRIF Application Deadline on December 20, 2021
DOJ Agreed to Recognize the Immigration Judges Union.

View the December 7, 2021 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

DHS Will Begin a Court-Ordered Reimplementation of MPP
All TPS Applicants May Now File Required Forms Online
DHS Began Implementing New Immigration Enforcement Priorities
Presidential Proclamation Restricting Travel from Southern Africa.

Agradecemos al Centro de Estudios de Migración de Nueva York (CMS por sus siglas en inglés) por su Actualización de Migración semanal. Visite su página bilingüe de Actualización de Migración para mantenerse al día sobre las actualizaciones recientes de la política de migración.

Ver la Actualización de Migración del CMS del 14 de diciembre, que incluye:

El Consejo de la Ciudad de Nueva York Otorgó a Más de 800,000 no Ciudadanos el Derecho a Votar en las Elecciones Locales
El DHS Solicita la Opinión del Público Sobre la Prevención de la Separación de Familias en la Frontera
Fecha Límite de Solicitud de LRIF es el 20 de Diciembre de 2021
El Senado confirma a Chris Magnus para dirigir CBP
El DOJ acordó reconocer al sindicato de jueces de inmigración.

Ver la Actualización de Migración del CMS del 7 de diciembre, que incluye:

El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS, por sus siglas en inglés) Comenzará Una Nueva Implementación del MPP Ordenada por la Corte
Todos los Solicitantes de TPS Ahora Pueden Presentar los Formularios Requeridos en Línea
El DHS Comenzó a Implementar Nuevas Prioridades de Aplicación de la Ley de Inmigración
Proclamación Presidencial que Restringe los Viajes Desde el Sur de África.

Notable New Publications, Reports, Films, Articles, Etc.

Center for Migration Studies:

Ready to Stay: A Comprehensive Analysis of the US Foreign-Born Populations Eligible for Special Legal Status Programs and for Legalization under Pending Bills. This report offers estimates of US foreign-born populations that are eligible for special legal status programs and those that would be eligible for permanent residence (legalization) under pending bills. It seeks to provide policymakers, government agencies, community-based organizations (CBOs), researchers, and others with a unique tool to assess the potential impact, implement, and analyze the success of these programs.

Does the Scale or Speed of Immigration Generate Nativism? Evidence from a Comparison of New Zealand Regions by Chris Wilson, Sanjal Shastri, and Henry Frear. This study examines the extent to which rate of immigration or the numbers of immigrants living in a given community exacerbate nativist tensions within that community.

Extraregional Migratory Flows in Transit as Complex Unbounded Emergency (Risk): Conceptual Challenges and Empirical Lessons in Costa Rica by Juan C. Méndez. This article examines how recent and unusual migratory flows in the Central American region led to novel state responses, including the use of disaster risk management principles and operational mechanisms.

Hope Border Institute:

No Queda de Otra: An Exploration of the Root Causes of Forced Migration to the Southern Border (English / Español) is based on interviews that HOPE conducted with dozens of people on the move in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Answers to the question “What led you to leave your home?” revealed a confluence of factors, including natural and human-made disasters, economic structures that impoverish, and state failure to protect people experiencing both generalized and gender-based violence. The COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricanes Eta and Iota were the final straw for many people whose already thin safety nets were stripped away.

Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources

Centreville (VA) Immigration Forum Toy Drive, December 18, 2021, 7 AM-Noon. Help bring holiday cheer to the local community by participating in our toy drive. Drop off your donations at our Labor Center. THANK YOU!

Mass and Blessing for Missionary Priest Traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo, December 19, 2021, Noon. For folks in the Orange, NJ-area, you are invited to a Mass and farewell blessing for Salesian Brother Dan Glass before he departs for Africa to carry out missionary work. Please RSVP so that we can plan for refreshments after Mass.

Advent Prayer Service by Pax Christi USA, December 20, 2021, at 8:30 PM ET. All are welcome to join Pax Christi USA’s Advent Prayer Service which will include readings from this year’s Advent-Christmas reflection booklet. Register now and share the season with us.

Maryland Catholic Conference’s (MCC) 2022 State Legislative Preview, December 21, 2021, at 7 PM ET. For Maryland residents, join the Catholic Labor Network in hosting MCC Executive Director Jenny Kraska to review and discuss the Conference’s social justice priorities for the 2022 state legislative session. Learn more and register to participate.

JustFaith Ministries Invitation: Small Groups to Join Starting in January 2022. Looking for a virtual small group to join and grow your faith? JustFaith - Charlotte (NC) is offering virtual small groups to join starting in January. Some of the groups include Social Justice, Sacred Land/Food and Farming, Racial Justice, and Communications. Find out more and sign up.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year,

The JFI Team at the USCCB

Stay Connected

Visit the JFI website to learn about us, read policy recommendations and letters to Congress, find materials for your parish, get advocacy resources, access previously recorded webinars, and more! Send us an email to get connected.