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JFI Week in Review 12/16 - 12/20/2019
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Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,
Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.
Passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act
On December 11, 2019, the U.S. House passed HR 5038 [[link removed]],
the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill which would improve conditions
for immigrant farmworkers and their families, ensure the stability of the U.S. agricultural
industry, offer legalization to certain farmworkers and their families, and reform
the H2A worker program. After the vote of 260-165 [[link removed]]
for passage, Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and Chairman
of the USCCB Committee on Migration, and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma
City, and Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, issued
a statement [[link removed]]
in support of the legislation. After passage in the House, there is hope that this
bill will be taken up in the Senate. Join us on the next JFI National Call on January
15th to learn more.
Refugee Resettlement Update
Since October 1, 2019, the start of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, the U.S. has admitted
2,569 refugees, with the top resettlement states being Washington, California, Texas,
New York, and Arizona. The largest numbers of refugees admitted so far this year
have been from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Maldova,
and Eritrea. These countries constitute over 80% of the nationalities of refugees
admitted so far this Fiscal Year.
Pursuant to Executive Order 13888 (EO 13888 [[link removed]]),
resettlement agencies must secure consent to resettle from governors and county
executives in order to resettle in their jurisdictions. So far, 29 governors have
consented, including 10 Republicans.See link [[link removed]]
to Department of State (DOS) website where the consent letters are posted (note
that there may be lag time between when an official announces consent and when it
is posted by DOS).
Appropriations Update
With a continuing resolution set to expire on December 20th, Congressional leaders
reached agreement on all 12 FY2020 appropriations bills, packaging them into two
"minibuses" of 4 and 8 bills. The House and Senate have passed both bills by wide
margins and President Trump is expected to sign the measures prior to tonight's
midnight deadline. Refugee-related funding within the Labor Health &Human Services,
and Education (LHHS) and the State Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPs)
bills remained level or slightly higher than FY19 funding for virtually every account
for FY20. A compromise was reached in the Homeland Security bill, keeping border
wall funding, enforcement agencies' funding, and immigration detention levels near
FY19 levels, while not barring the President from transferring funds from different
areas to increase some of those totals. Please see FY2020 article [[link removed]]
on overall appropriations and refugee appropriations update [[link removed]].
Fee Waiver Comment
On December 18th, USCCB/MRS, Catholic Charities USA, and CLINIC filed a comment
[[link removed]]
opposing proposed fee increases to applications for adjustment of status, asylum,
DACA renewals and naturalization. Earlier this month, JFI and CLINIC held a webinar
that highlighted the significance of the fee waiver changes. Please see the slides
and recording at the JFI website [[link removed]].
Please also see the sample template comment [[link removed]]
created by CLINIC, which provides a model for those interested in filing their own
comment.
National Migration Week 2020
The upcoming National Migration Week (NMW) is January 5-11, 2020 and the theme for
this year's celebration is "Promoting a Church and a World for All [[link removed]]."
Please send information about your NMW 2020 events to [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
so we may promote your Mass, celebration or diocesan activity. Please also send
us your post-NMW event photos and media stories. Best wishes for the New Year and
National Migration Week 2020!
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month Toolkit
January is the National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Please see
our National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month and Day of Prayer toolkit
[[link removed]].
Download the tool kit and you will find human trafficking talking points, samples
letters to the editor, community engagement ideas, social media, prayer intercessions,
and more!
SAVE THE DATE: 1st JFI National Call of 2020- January 15th at 2pm Eastern
Please mark your calendars and join the JFI national call on January 15, 2020 at
2-3 PM Eastern. Bishop Mario Dorsonville of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC,
the new chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration will speak on the call. Call
details will be sent in January.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities

* National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother: Christmas Festival of Lights - Until
December 30, 2019 in Portland, OR -The Grotto's 32nd Annual Christmas Festival of
Lights opens daily at 5 PM and will run through Dec. 30 (except Christmas Day).
Come hear choirs, see lights, listen to caroling, and more. See the Grotto's website
[[link removed]].

* National Migration Week Mass - January 4, 2020 at 11 AM in the Diocese of Owensboro,
KY - Join Bishop William F. Medley at St. Stephen Cathedral for Mass as we kick
off National Migration Week across our diocese and the nation on Saturday, Jan.
4th. More information is on the diocese's website [[link removed]].

* National Migration Week Mass - January 5, 2020 at 5:15 PM in the Archdiocese of
Chicago - The Archdiocese's annual National Migration Week Mass will take place
at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 North State St., Chicago 60611. Learn more on the website
[[link removed]].

* Fences, Cages, and a Wall: Experiences of St. Louis Teens at the Border - January
6, 2020 at 6:30 PM in the Archdiocese of St. Louis -Join a group of high school
students at St. Margaret of Scotland Church (3854 Flad Avenue, 63110) who will talk
about their recent experience at the U.S./Mexico Border, what they learned, and
how it impacted their lives.
* Centering Immigrants' Stories Workshop - January 7, 2020 at 6:30 PM in the Archdiocese
of Seattle - Come to St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave., Seattle 98104,during National
Migration Week to celebrate migrants. This 90-minute workshop is focused on holding
space, being present, and centering the stories of immigrants. Call Chris Koehler,
206-382-4511, to RSVP.

* Diocesan Mass Celebrating Migrant Peoples- January 12, 2020 at 3 PM in San Bernardino,
CA - Come worship with Bishop Gerald Barnes who will officiate Mass in honor and
celebration of migrant peoples on Sunday, Jan. 12th at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral,
2525 N Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92405. Email [mailto:[email protected]]
for more information.
On behalf of the Justice for Immigrants team, we wish you a Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year!
In Solidarity,
Tony Cube
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3211 Fourth Street, NE Washington, DC 20017
Phone: (202) 541-3064 Fax: (202) 722-8711
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