‌ ‌ JFI Bi-Weekly Review - April 11th - 22nd, 2022 JFI Colleagues, Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.  U.S. Bishops’ President and Migration Chairman Respond to U.S. Government’s “Uniting for Ukraine” Initiative On April 21, the Biden Administration announced the creation of “Uniting for Ukraine,” a streamlined process for displaced Ukrainians seeking to enter the United States. In place of formal refugee status, the program relies heavily on humanitarian parole, a mechanism in U.S. immigration law that grants individuals authorization to enter the United States for a temporary period of time. Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the USCCB, and Bishop Mario Dorsonville, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, issued a statement in response to the announcement. USCCB Submits Migration-Related Appropriations Requests to Congress On April 21, 2022, Bishop Dorsonville submitted the Committee on Migration’s appropriations requests for Fiscal Year 2023 to Congress. These requests relate to funding provided by four different appropriations bills: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Department of Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. This annual effort addresses the Committee’s funding priorities for a range of programs that impact immigrants, refugees, asylees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied migrant children, survivors of torture, and victims of human trafficking. Comment Deadline for Proposed Public Charge Regulations Nears On February 24, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice of proposed rulemaking on the public charge ground of inadmissibility for those seeking admission to the United States or adjustment of status. Together with Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), the USCCB submitted comments on the proposed rule, generally welcoming the proposed provisions and articulating specific recommendations to promote fairness in administration of the public charge rule. Any interested individual or entity can submit comments on the proposed rule via the Regulations.gov portal; the comment period closes on April 25, 2022. Oral Arguments to be Heard in Biden v. Texas On April 26, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Biden v. Texas. This case hinges on whether or not the Secretary of Homeland Security’s decision to terminate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) was lawful. On March 21, the USCCB, together with CCUSA and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), submitted an amicus curiae brief in the case. The brief addresses the non-refoulement issues inherent in MPP, contrary to domestic and international law, as well as its inconsistency with Catholic social teaching. The full text of the brief can be viewed here. The Court’s decision in Biden v. Texas is expected some time before its term ends in June. Webinar: Resettling “Special Populations”: Striking the Right Balance between Urgency and Equity We look forward to you joining us for this webinar on April 26, 2022 at 2 PM Eastern. Please share this webinar flyer and link with your networks. Request for World Refugee Day 2022 World Refugee Day (WRD) is June 20, 2022, and is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. WRD celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives. Please send Tony Cube or Todd Scribner an email with events you have planned for World Refugee Day 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 April 20 CMS Migration Update, which includes: DHS Designated Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 Months DHS Published Two Federal Register Notices on TPS for Ukraine and Sudan USCIS Announced that DACA Renewal Forms Can Now Be Filed Online USCIS Announced a Risk-Based Approach for Waiving Conditional Permanent Residence Interviews ICE Issues New Guidance for OPLA Attorneys on Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion in Immigration Court to Reduce the Backlog 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 de 20 de abril, que incluye: DHS designa a Camerún para el Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) durante 18 meses El DHS publicó dos avisos en el Registro Federal sobre el TPS para Ucrania y Sudán USCIS anunció que los formularios de renovación de DACA ya se pueden presentar en línea USCIS anunció un enfoque basado en el riesgo para renunciar a las entrevistas de residencia permanente condicional ICE emite una nueva guía para los abogados de la OPLA sobre el ejercicio de la discreción del fiscal en la Corte de Inmigración para reducir el atraso Migration-Related Op-Eds, Interviews, and Columns by Catholic Bishops Pope Francis: Migration is not a crisis. It is a sign of our times. Bishop-elect Jacques Fabre, Archdiocese of Atlanta: America’s first Haitian Catholic ordinary (interview) Notable New Publications, Reports, Films, Articles, Etc. American Immigration Council: Immigrants Punch Above their Weight as Taxpayers As Tax Day just passed, this paper brings the significant tax contributions of immigrants—including undocumented immigrants—into the spotlight. This item also notes that immigrants’ contributions are indispensable to the health and success of America’s public services and programs. Center for Migration Studies of New York: The Crisis in Refugee Protection and Everyday Catholics In this essay, CMS Executive Director Donald Kerwin reflects on how everyday Catholics can answer the Church’s call “to see migrants not as ‘others,’ but as human beings, our brothers and sisters, created in God’s image.” Fr. Lydio F. Tomas, C.S. Annual Lecture on International Migration (video): Christianity and the Law of Migration Silas W. Allard delivered the lecture, “Christianity and the Law of Migration: A Dialog in Social Responsibility.” The event also featured responses from Kristin Heyer and Raj Nadella – co-editors with Allard – of the new book Christianity and the Law of Migration. Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources Just Faith Ministries Introductory Presentation, April 26, 2022 at 3:30 PM Eastern. For over twenty years, JustFaith Ministries has been providing resources that have a powerful impact on the lives of participants. Graduates of our programs get engaged in the work of justice, investing themselves with newfound passion and commitment. Learn more about our work and programs. Register to join us. Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) Event in New York City: Ignite: A Celebration of Justice, April 27, 2022 at 6:30 PM. Join the ISN at Ignite: A Celebration of Justice, and be a part of our ongoing work to build a more just world. There is one week left to buy tickets. We're looking forward to seeing you there along with other members of the Ignatian family. May Day Mass with Cardinal Wilton Gregory at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, DC, May 1, 2022 at 11 AM. One of today's labor priests, Fr. Evelio Menjivar, will offer a homily and some thoughts on the long-time Catholic involvement in the labor movement. See the website for more information. Catholic Relief Services Virtual Event: Migration in the Americas: Promoting Rootedness, May 12, 2022 at 2 PM Eastern. In a lead up to the June 2022 Summit of Americas to be held in Los Angeles, learn how CRS works as a critical on-the-ground actor in key countries throughout the migratory systems in the Americas working to address root causes of migration and promoting protection, regularization, and integration of migrants unable to return home. This webinar is the latest in a series to highlight the work CRS is doing throughout the Americas to ensure vulnerable populations, including the displaced, are treated with dignity. We look forward to you joining us! CLINIC Convening (Virtual), May 16-19, 2022. CLINIC’s 2022 Convening will again be virtual with events taking place in the afternoons Eastern Time. The conference will feature keynotes, thoughtful policy and legal analysis, and discussion of the most important immigration topics from leading government officials, policymakers, researchers, advocates and others. Please visit our convening website for more information and to register. In solidarity, Tony Cube 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. 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