JFI Bi-Weekly Review - Jan. 29th-Feb. 11th, 2022 |
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JFI Colleagues,
Please see below for the latest updates from JFI. Also, in recognition of Black History Month, please note the Pew Research Center report below.
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On February 8, 2022, the Catholic Church across the world marked the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking and the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita. In a statement released on February 7, Bishop Mario Dorsonville, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, stated, “The Holy Father has aptly described slavery as ‘a scourge that wounds the dignity of our weakest brothers and sisters.’ Often unseen, we know that human trafficking is pervasive throughout the world, including in the United States, and it is imperative that we take all necessary steps to address this injustice. . . . On this occasion and always, our hearts and prayers are with all who are impacted by human trafficking, and we pledge our ongoing commitment to rid the world of this modern slavery.” Bishop Dorsonville also provided a reflection during a livestream organized by Talitha Kum, a global network organization of women religious who advocate for and help victims of human trafficking.
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More than seventy-five thousand Afghans were brought into the United States following their evacuation from Afghanistan this past summer and thousands are now being resettled into local communities across the country. Our welcome of displaced populations continues a long-standing trend in our history. Welcome.us is an initiative that helps to provide support for these populations. USCCB/MRS is active in the organization’s outreach and support. If you are interested in learning more or in providing support to this outreach, please check out www.welcome.us.
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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.
- House Passes the America COMPETES Act that Includes Immigration Reforms to Help Boost the US Economy
- Operation Allies Welcome Resettled the Last Group of Afghan Evacuees at the Fort Pickett, Virginia DOD Base
- Afghan Nationals Arriving to the United States under OAW May Now Use an Overseas Medical Exam when Applying for Adjustment of Status
- Class-action Settlement Prevents ICE from Re-detaining Immigrants Released Due to COVID-19 and Preserves Health and Safety Measures at Two California Detention Centers
- EOIR Extends Postponement of Certain Immigration Court Hearings Due to the Ongoing Prevalence of COVID-19 Cases Nationwide
- DHS and DOL Made an Additional 20,000 H-2B Visas Available for FY 2022
- Operation Allies Welcome Resettled the Last Groups of Afghan Evacuees at DOD Bases in Camp Atterbury, Indiana and Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
- USCIS Updated its Guidance on Expedite Requests
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.
- EOIR extiende la prórroga de ciertas audiencias de la Corte de Inmigración debido a la prevalencia actual de los casos de COVID-19 en todo el país
- DHS y DOL ponen a disposición 20.000 visas H-2B adicionales para el año fiscal 2022
- La Operación Aliados Bienvenidos reubicó a los últimos grupos de evacuados afganos en las bases del Departamento de Defensa en Camp Atterbury, Indiana y la Base de la Fuerza Aérea Holloman, Nuevo México
- USCIS actualiza sus directrices sobre las solicitudes de aceleración
Notable New Publications, Reports, Films, Articles, Etc.
Center for Migration Studies of New York:
New York City is a “welcoming city” that encourages “all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status” to access the public benefits and services for which they qualify (NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs or “MOIA” 2021a). Moreover, it invests significant resources in educating immigrant communities on this core commitment and its lack of participation in federal immigration enforcement activities. However, this report by the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) finds that immigrants in New York City still face significant barriers to accessing public benefits and services.
This paper 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. It views timely, comprehensive data on targeted immigrant populations as an essential pillar of legalization preparedness, implementation, and evaluation. The paper and the exhaustive estimates that underlie it, represent the first attempt to provide a detailed statistical profile of beneficiaries of proposed major US legalization programs and special, large-scale legal status programs.
- For Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, the Biden administration set a refugee admissions goal of 125,000, a number which is more reflective both of global need and the United States’ historical goals. While the administration has publicly stated its support for the rebuild of the country’s humanitarian programs, refugee arrivals thus far have failed to reflect that declaration. At the end of the first quarter in FY22, the US is only 2.6% of the way toward meeting its goal of 125,00. RCUSA’s full quarterly arrivals report has more information and details.
- Black immigrants have contributed significantly to the growth and diversity of the overall Black population in the United States. This new Pew Research Center report examines the size and characteristics of the nation’s Black immigrant population, as well as its projected growth in future years.
- This survey, conducted online between Sept. 16 and 29, 2021 interviewed a representative sample of 2,508 adults (age 18 and up) living in all 50 states in the United States. It focused on welcoming views about immigration to the U.S. and whether it’s a critical issue at all. The survey looked at how political affiliation, the kind of media some respondents digested, race and sometimes age affected the answers given. It also asked questions about whether respondents viewed immigration favorably or otherwise.
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Human Trafficking Webinar Follow-Up
Thank you to those who joined us on Feb. 2, 2022 for "Pandemic Impacts on Preventing and Assisting Victims of Human Trafficking in Catholic Ministries," a joint webinar by the by the USCCB, CHA and the U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking. Below are materials from the program. Please feel free to share with your colleagues.
Please complete the evaluation if you have not done so. We value your feedback and use it to improve future programs.
Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources
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Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach Webinar: From Rhetoric to Reality, February 15, 2022 at 4 PM ET. Join this JFI-core member organization as they discuss what’s really happening on the U.S./Mexico border and how people of faith can stand in solidarity with migrants and the border communities that welcome them. Pre-registration is required.
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Catholic Labor Network Webinar: Listening Session with DC Domestic Workers, February 15, 2022, at Noon ET. As Catholics, we believe that every worker has dignity as a child of God. And we are especially called to minister to the needs of the least of our brothers and sisters (Matthew 25). Few workers are more vulnerable to exploitation than domestic workers--the nannies, house cleaners and home care workers who take care of our homes and our loved ones. Webinar participants will have the opportunity to hear firsthand from domestic workers about their struggles for justice, and learn how they can help. Join in!
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Webinar Reminder: A Partnership to Support Haitians, February 16, 2022 at Noon ET. Supporting Haitians is a partnership between Catholic Charities USA, CLINIC, USCCB, and Catholic Charities of NYC. Join this webinar to find out more about supporting Haitians, including possible status issue/NTAs, service barriers for Haitians, where Haitians are going and current efforts that may be replicable around the country, finding ways to support Haitians in a meaningful way/not reinventing the wheel/not infringing on Haitian-led efforts.
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Archdiocese of Seattle Mass for Healthcare Professionals and Caregivers, February 19, 2022, at 5:30 PM PT. This Mass celebrates members of the healthcare community, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, nursing aides, caregivers, first responders, chaplains and all other members of healthcare professions. Attend in person at St. James Cathedral or via livestream.
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Introductory Presentation of JustFaith Ministries and Programs, February 22, 2022 at 3:30 PM ET. Hear from Jack Jezreel and Leila Oakley and learn more about our work. Register in advance.
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Foster Parents Needed for Immigrant and Refugee Teens. Refugees Northwest Foster Care Virtual Info Session, February 23, 2022 at 6 PM PT. You can support refugee and immigrant teenagers in King County, WA by becoming a licensed foster parent. Currently, there is an urgent need for foster homes for youth who have fled Afghanistan, and an ongoing need for foster homes for youth from Guatemala and Honduras. All are in the U.S. alone and in need of long-term foster families to welcome them. At this orientation, our staff will share an overview of the youth we serve, the supports we offer foster families, and the basics of the licensing process. Registration required to learn more.
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Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ACIJ) Membership Meeting, February 24, 2022 at Noon CT. If you haven’t become an ACIJ yet, join today and participate virtually in our upcoming meeting.
In Solidarity,
Tony Cube
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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.
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