JFI Week in Review 7/22-7/26/19

Justice for Immigrants Colleagues,

Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

Elimination of U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program "Against the Principles We Have as a Nation" Says Chair of USCCB's Committee on Migration

On July 18, 2019, it was reported that some officials in the Administration were calling to zero out the refugee resettlement program. In response, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Texas, and Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, issued a statement condemning the proposed zeroing out of the program and called for a return to the normal historical goal of admitting 95,000 refugees annually.

Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), a coalition of which USCCB is a member, also condemned the proposed reduction and issued a statement in response and called for returning the program to its historical norms. Bill Canny, RCUSA Chair and Executive Director for USCCB's Migration and Refugee Services, noted: "There continue to be refugees who need the protection that resettlement provides, including refugees who are fleeing religious persecution. Faith based communities and volunteers across the U.S. have the desire, capacity, and resources to return to at least our historically normal level of welcoming refugees."

RCUSA followed up with a press briefing on July 22, 2019, during which issue experts, advocates, and a former refugee responded to the reported proposal.

Asylum Update

The Administration issued an asylum regulation last week that would bar virtually anyone from asylum who had entered or was attempting to enter the United States' southern border with Mexico if they failed to apply for asylum in a country they had transited through. The U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia denied advocates' request for a restraining order to stop the rule's implementation; however, the U.S. District of Northern California (San Francisco) issued a nationwide preliminary injunction in the case of East Bay Sanctuary Covenant v William Barr, and thereby temporarily halted the implementation of the regulation.

On July 16, 2019, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, released a statement on the interim final rule, stating that "the Administration's new rule on asylum eligibility presents a similar enforcement-only immigration approach. The rule adds further barriers to asylum-seekers' ability to access life-saving protection, shirks our moral duty, and will prevent the United States from taking its usual leading role in the international community as a provider of asylum protection."

Included in this statement, Cardinal Dinardo also commented on reports that the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) planned to arrest thousands of migrant families who have court orders to be removed. The Cardinal asserted that "enforcement actions like those anticipated this week by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency separate families, cause the unacceptable suffering of thousands of children and their parents, and create widespread panic in our communities. I condemn such an approach...".

Chair of USCCB Committee on Migration Calls for Reversal of the Expansion of Expedited Removal, Cites Family Separation and Lack of Due Process Among Concerns

On July 23, 2019, DHS revised and expanded its controversial fast-track removal or "expedited removal" policy, enabling immigration enforcement officers to expedite the deportation of immigrants who are suspected of being undocumented and cannot prove two years of physical presence in the United States. This change is effective immediately.

Responding to the expanded use of expedited removal, Bishop Vásquez issued a statement calling on DHS to reverse its decision to expand the policy. In addition to noting the family separation and fear that this policy will cause, Bishop Vásquez explained: "This action is yet another escalation of this Administration's enforcement-only immigration approach, and it will have terrible human consequences. The new policy will allow for the deportation of many more individuals without providing them an opportunity to seek legal counsel and have a hearing before an immigration judge."

Federal Budget and Appropriations Update

Congress and the Administration have reportedly reached an agreement that would address the problem of federal spending exceeding the debt ceiling through July 21, 2021. They also agreed to raise the budget caps on defense and non-defense discretionary spending levels for two years. On Thursday, July 25, 2019 the House passed the bipartisan measure 284-149, and the Senate is likely to vote on the measure before their recess. Enacting the debt ceiling measure would maintain the U.S. full faith and credit for that period and raising the budget caps would enable the U.S. to spend $320 billion in additional discretionary funds, and avoid sequestration being triggered, which would impose automatic cuts across spending accounts.

With the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2019, Congress will have three choices when they return from August recess: pass the twelve FY2020 appropriations bills, pass a continuing resolution for any unpassed bills (thereby continuing spending at FY2019 levels), or close the government operations for the activities funded by any unpassed bills.

JFI Webinar: What We Saw and Experienced in Central America

Please join us for a webinar where JFI Core Members who took part in a delegation to Central America will share their insights on the trip and report on the migration situation that is currently ongoing in the region. The webinar will be hosted on Wednesday, July 31st at 2PM Eastern. Please find more information below on the webinar flyer.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Immigration Walk-In Consultation - July 27, 2019 at 9 AM in Chicago: The Resurrection Project is holding its next immigration consultation on Saturday, July 27th at 1805 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL. You can speak with an attorney or DOJ-accredited representative at this event, which is open to the public and available in both Spanish and English.
From Save the Children: U.S Mexico-Border Twitter Chat - August 6, 2019 at 2 PM ET: Join Save the Children (@SavetheChildren), the American Immigration Lawyers Association (@AILANational) and American Immigration Council (@immcouncil) in a Twitter Chat to learn more about their work to ensure the well-being of children in family detention centers. Use the Hashtag: #HarmInDetention
St. James Cathedral Summer Film Series: Homeboy Joy Ride - August 6, 2019 at 6:30 PM in Seattle: The Archdiocese of Seattle's Office of Social Outreach & Advocacy is holding a free screening of Homeboy Joy Ride at 907 Columbia St, Seattle, WA. This documentary explores the work of Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. and his effort to provide work skills to high-risk and former gang members and keep them out of the criminal justice system. Call Patrick Barredo, 206-382-4515, for more information.

Theology on Tap: Q&A with the Archbishop - August 13, 2019 at 6 PM in Washington, DC: Young professionals are invited to the Archdiocese of Washington's (ADW) next Theology on Tap event at 1330 19th St. NW in Washington for a conversation with Archbishop Wilton Gregory. Contact the ADW's Office of Young Adult Ministry for more information. All are welcome!

ONGOING: Weekly Prayer Vigils at the Broadview, IL Immigration Processing Center - Every Friday at 7 AM: On Friday mornings, join in a prayer vigil at the immigration processing center (1930 Beach St, Broadview) to provide public witness and accompaniment to immigrants about to be deported. An interfaith prayer service is held on the first Friday of every month, and the Rosary is prayed on the remaining Fridays. No special training or advance notice is needed to participate in the prayer vigil.

In Solidarity,

Tony Cube