Friday, March 4
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NOORANI'S NOTES

 

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and the Libre Initiative launched a new
campaign yesterday urging lawmakers to pass broad immigration reforms
this year, reports Rafael Bernal of The Hill
.  

A recent Libre poll found that 93% of respondents agree Congress should
act on both immigration and border security measures. 

"Politicians in Washington are failing their constituents. Practical
immigration fixes would give us a stronger economy, a stronger border,
and a stronger America. An overwhelming number of Americans agree, but
Congress cares more about fighting than solving problems," said Libre
Initiative president Daniel Garza. "Our call is simple: start by pairing
reforms that have broad support and let's start reforming our outdated
immigration systems." 

Libre and AFP are among the diverse coalition of organizations who
joined the Alliance for a New Immigration Consensus

(ANIC), which sent a letter

to Congress this week to push immigration reforms forward. 

Baptist News Global
's
Jeff Brumley spoke to members of the coalition, including faith
groups. 

"For decades the Catholic bishops of the United States and members of
the faithful across our country have been advocating for just and
forward-looking immigration reform, a reform that recognizes the
God-given dignity of every single person in our nation, citizens and
non-citizens," said Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, chairman of the Migrant
and Refugee Services Committee of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops. The Alliance is a powerful example of faith and other
groups banding together on something like immigration, he added.  

For more on the Alliance for a New Immigration Consensus, see coverage
in the National Catholic Reporter
,
Law360
,
and KJZZ's Fronteras Desk
. 

Welcome to Friday's edition of Noorani's Notes. If you have a
story to share from your own community, please send it to me at
[email protected]
.  

TPS FOR UKRAINE - Speaking of reform and protecting the most
vulnerable, last night the Department of Homeland Security granted

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the tens of thousands of Ukrainians
already in the U.S., reports Joel Rose of NPR
.
While granting TPS to Ukrainians is "an important move that speaks to
our history as a safe haven for those facing oppression," the Biden
administration must "prioritize rebuilding our refugee resettlement
infrastructure and capacity, to continue our legacy as a welcoming
beacon of democracy," per our press statement
.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday the EU announced it would provide Ukrainian
refugees residence and work permits, among other temporary measures to
aid them in housing, medical coverage and more, Eric Sylvers and
Laurence Norman report for The Wall Street Journal
.
For more on the humanitarian efforts on the ground and the kindness of
strangers as Ukrainians flee their homes, read this powerful piece from
Valerie Hopkins in The New York Times
. 

AFGHAN WELCOME - Welcoming Afghan refugees to Iowa "is necessary to
our integrity" as a state and as people of faith, writes Peter Hoelsema
in a letter to the editor for Sioux Center News
.
"To deny Afghans welcome here would be to deny our heritage, forsake the
integrity of the Gospel and to dishonor the Name. Who are we to deny
Afghans the opportunity of the Gospel? And least of all, who are we to
deny them hospitality?"  

On the local front:

* In partnership with the humanitarian organization Alight, Halal
Groceries in Burnsville, Minnesota, "has so far donated 30,000 pounds of
food to hundreds of Afghan refugees." The store plans to continue
"significantly reducing the cost to buy groceries" for Afghans as well.
(Bisi Onile-Ere, FOX 9
) 

* A new nonprofit, Tennessee Resettlement Aid, is helping Afghan
refugees find jobs and mentors. The organization "is looking for more
ways to help the new Afghan community in the city moving forward,
including trying to find a way to facilitate the evacuation of family
members still in Afghanistan." (Will Chappell and Mike Osborne, WMOT
) 

* Islamic Relief USA recently donated $17,950 to the Khan Ohana
Foundation, a local food pantry in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "The donation will
help Afghan refugees receive hot, nutritious meals while they continue
to adapt to life in America." (FOX23.com
) 

'WE SEE OURSELVES' - As former unaccompanied migrant children
under Operation Pedro Pan, "[w]e see ourselves in the faces of the
children now coming to Florida alone from many countries," write Tony
Argiz and Mario Murgado, Board Members of the IMPAC Fund, in an op-ed
for The Orlando Sentinel
.
They are now urging Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to reverse the order
blocking shelters from renewing their licenses to care for foster and
unaccompanied migrant children. "The governor's order goes against
Florida's proud tradition of welcoming immigrants, especially
vulnerable children, fleeing dictatorships and economic disasters," they
write. In reality, "new arrivals are bringing the skills and ingenuity
that our state needs to propel itself forward, just as we did more than
a half-century ago." 

DREAMER NARRATIVE - A new film from political organizer Karina
Dominguez explores the impacts of the 'Dreamer' narrative on
undocumented communities, reports Raphael Romero Ruiz of The Arizona
Republic
.
"Rejecting the Dreamer Narrative" aims to shed light on the estimated 11
million undocumented immigrants who do not have DACA. Dominguez's
goal is "to create a more inclusive way of talking about immigrant
people, with more dimension, within the movement," and build a movement
that "protects everyone and does not perpetuate the good versus bad
migrant narrative." 

Thanks for reading, 

Ali 

P.S. Mark your calendar: eCornell is providing free webinars on
"Russia's War on Ukraine: A New Attack on Peace, Rights, and
Sovereignty "
later today, and "After the Fall: The Future for Afghan Allies Fleeing
the Taliban "
next Wednesday. They will also be recorded, so feel free to register now
and listen later. You won't want to miss these important
conversations. 

 

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