Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,
Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.
DACA Update
USCCB Chairman Issues Statement on Supreme Court Cases Upholding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program
On November 12, 2019, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, of Austin and Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, offered the following statement:
"DACA youth are leaders in our parishes and significant contributors to our economy and communities. They are hard-working young people who know the United States as their only home. We continue to urge Congress and the President to work together to find a permanent legislative solution to the plight of all DREAMers... Not allowing these young people to continue to utilize DACA to reach their God-given potential is against the common good and our nation's history of welcoming the immigrant."
DC Rosary Walk for DACA
On November 12th, prior to the U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, JFI core member organizations and other Catholic and interfaith supporters of DACA youth prayed a Rosary at Columbus Circle in Washington, DC, then marched to the Supreme Court in solidarity with DACA recipients.
Photos of the Rosary and walk to the Supreme Court are on JFI's Twitter page and Catholic News Service wrote an article on the event that included more pictures. A special thanks to our JFI Core Group, especially Ignatian Solidarity Network and NETWORK.
While the Supreme Court may not issue a ruling on DACA until Spring 2020, you can learn what can be done now (in English and in Español) while we wait and can send the following action alert to your U.S. Senators asking they support S. 874, the Dream Act of 2019.
Dear Senator,
As a person of faith, I stand with the U.S. Catholic Bishops and write to express my strong support for the "Dream Act of 2019" (S. 874). The young people protected by this bill are contributors to our economy, veterans of our military, academic standouts in our universities, and leaders in our parishes and communities. As Catholics, we have long supported DREAMERS as we believe in protecting the dignity of every human being, especially that of our children. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a program that has benefited over 800,000 young people by ensuring that recipients are able to live their lives free of the anxiety that they could be deported at any time to a country they do not know and separated from their families.
I urge you to:
* Support and co-sponsor S. 874, the Dream Act of 2019; and
* Continue to work towards larger legislative reform of our immigration laws.
Catholics stand with you in support of the DREAM Act of 2019, S. 874.
Thank you.
Refugee Update
On November 1, 2019, President Trump issued the official Presidential Determination ( here) authorizing the arrival in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 of 18,000 refugees and 10,000 special immigrants from Afghanistan and Iraq. See RCUSA Statement ( here). During the month of October no refugees arrived. Refugees began arriving on November 5, 2019. Regarding the Executive Order on State and Local Participation (Executive Order 13888), the Department of State clarified in the recent Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FY 2020 that the nine resettlement agencies (RAs) and their local affiliates would be responsible to secure consent for initial resettlement into the United States from governors and local officials, pursuant to Executive Order 13888 (see backgrounder here). The nine RAs will attempt to secure as many consents as possible before January 21, 2020, the due date for the NOFO.
Appropriations Update
With a temporary spending package set to expire on November 21st, Congressional leaders are in the process to agree to a December 20th deadline for a new continuing resolution in order to avert a government shutdown. Disagreement over the President's demands for up to $8 billion in new funding for a U.S.-Mexico border project is a major cause for the impasse on the spending package.
Farm Workforce Modernization Act
On October 30th, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Representatives Newhouse (R-WA), Simpson (R-ID) Panetta (CA-D), Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Peterson (D-MN), Sanchez (D-CA) introduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019, a bipartisan bill that offers legalization to certain farmworkers and their families as well as reforms to the H2A worker program. See the USCCB letter of support here.
Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, Testifies on Human Consequences of August Raids
On November 7th, Father Odel Medina, Pastor of St Anne Catholic Church, in Carthage, MS testified before the House Homeland Security Field Hearing in Mississippi on the August 2019 Mississippi immigration raids. See Father Odel's testimony here.
El Paso-Juarez Border Mass 2019
On November 2, 2019, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces, and Bishop Guadalupe Torres of Ciudad Juárez, concelebrated the annual Border Mass in El Paso, Texas. Photos of the 22nd annual Mass are on the Diocese of El Paso's Facebook page.
Notice: Justice for Immigrants National Call: December 9, 2019 at 2-3 PM Eastern
Please mark on your calendars and join us for the next JFI national call on December 9, 2019 at 2-3 PM Eastern. Dial-in information will be provided as we get closer to the day of the national call.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
- 22nd Annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice - November 16-18, 2019 in Washington, DC - Nearly 2,000 individuals will gather for the 22nd annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. The event also marks the 30th anniversary of the deaths of the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador. Visit the event page to learn how you can attend and participate.
- Stand with Our Neighbor Fundraiser- Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County - November 19, 2019 at 6 PM in Eugene, OR - Catholic Community Services of Lane County will participate in this multi-course fundraising dinner to assist refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants in the Eugene-area. Seating is limited, pre-purchase tickets.
- Immigration Charla Sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston - November 19, 2019 at 8 AM in Houston, TX - Join Catholic Charities for a Charla, or information session explaining immigration laws on Nov. 19th. Following the Charla there will be free consultations with immigration attorneys or accredited representatives. This Charla will be in Spanish. Registration is requested.
- New ESOL Teacher Training and Orientation at Catholic Charities of Arlington/Hogar Immigrant Services - November 23, 2019 at 10 AM in Manassas, VA - Want to help immigrants and refugees learn English? Volunteer with Hogar Immigrant Services and attend the New Teacher Training and Orientation to learn ESOL and Citizenship lesson planning and how to best use the curriculum. RSVP in an email to get started.
- Catholic Charities of New Orleans' Peace Prayer Walk - November 26, 2019 at 6 PM in New Orleans, LA - Follow Pope Francis' call to go out into the community to encounter and dialogue with others to promote peace. The walk will take place at St. James Major, 3736 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans 70122. Visit the website for more information.
- 88th Anniversary Procession and Mass In Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe - December 1, 2019 in Los Angeles, CA - The Archdiocese of Los Angeles' Procession and Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the oldest religious procession in the city. It begins at Cesar Chavez Ave. and Ford Blvd. and ends at East Los Angeles College, where Archbishop José Gomez will celebrate Mass. Please see the bilingual flyer for information.
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Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG) - January 25-28, 2020 in Washington, DC - Join the annual gathering of national Catholic organizations that brings together current and emerging leaders in Catholic social ministry from across the U.S. To register or for more information, visit the CSMG website.
In Solidarity,
Tony Cube
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