JFI Biweekly Review: January 9-20, 2023 JFI Colleagues, Please see below for the latest updates from JFI. U.S. Catholic Church Marks Twenty Years Since Release of Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope On January 22, 2023, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the pastoral letter Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope. This landmark document, issued jointly by the bishops of the United States and Mexico, addressed the need to manage migration between the two countries more humanely and emphasized the importance of providing pastoral care to newcomers. The letter also underscored a part of the Church’s identity that is frequently affirmed by Pope Francis: we are a Church that transcends borders, in which nobody is seen as disposable and all are welcome. Twenty years after its publication, the need for a systemic reform of the U.S. immigration system has only become more apparent. The Church continues to recognize that migration between our two countries is necessary and beneficial, but “some aspects of the migrant experience are far from the vision of the Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed: many persons who seek to migrate are suffering, and, in some cases, tragically dying; human rights are abused; families are kept apart; and racist and xenophobic attitudes remain.” Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, issued a statement reflecting on the significance of Strangers No Longer. U.S. Bishops’ Migration Chairman Expresses Opposition to Border Safety and Security Act On January 17, 2023, Bishop Seitz sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging them to vote against the Border Safety and Security Act of 2023 (H.R. 29), which was introduced in the House at the beginning of the 118th Congress. H.R. 29 would effectively continue the current misuse of Title 42 indefinitely, while detaching it from any public health rationale (instead relying on the concept of “operational control”). It would also go beyond Title 42 by preventing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from admitting virtually anyone without a visa or prior authorization to enter the United States, including asylum seekers at ports of entry with bona fide claims, unaccompanied children, victims of torture, and victims of trafficking. Finally, if enacted, the bill would likely prevent this or a future administration from implementing humanitarian programs intended to reduce irregular migration and promote orderly processing at the border.  Welcome.us: 200+ Organizations Signal Support for the Welcome Corps, New Service Opportunity for Private Refugee Sponsorship On January 19, 2023, more than 200 diverse organizations, including USCCB/MRS, signaled their support for the Welcome Corps, a new U.S. government community service program that allows everyday Americans to privately sponsor refugees from around the world—representing the boldest innovation in refugee resettlement in more than 40 years, grounded in the generosity and compassion of American communities. Numerous local Catholic Charities agencies and church-affiliated organizations are also involved in this initiative. You are welcome to share the accompanying social media toolkit that was created for the launch of the program. Also, read a Reuters news story that describes the program.  USCCB/MRS Anti-Trafficking Newsletter: The Prevalence of Human Trafficking in Migrant Children There is no singular profile for trafficking victims; it can occur to minors and adults in rural, urban communities, and suburban areas across the nation. Victims of trafficking have diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, different levels of education, and various immigration statuses. It is vital to recognize that traffickers often target vulnerable individuals from unstable, financially complicated, physically and emotionally abusive homes and experiences. Traffickers disproportionately target individuals that may be more susceptible to manipulation driven by empty promises of safety, security, and love. Human trafficking has become a widespread phenomenon and has become a global health concern. It is important to know the proper terminology to adequately address the needs of this community. Read the second issue of USCCB/Migration and Refugee Services’ Anti-Trafficking newsletter from earlier this week to learn more about trafficking in migrant children. CLINIC Project Commemorating Strangers No Longer On the twentieth anniversary of Strangers No Longer, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), is launching Neighbors, Not Strangers, a new digital storytelling platform to spread the message that immigrants are not strangers to be feared but neighbors to be encountered and embraced. Through sharing stories of immigration from CLINIC's nationwide network of legal service organizations, it will show how immigrants are cherished members of our communities, and how faith- and community-based organizations are embracing the call to welcome the newcomer. Learn more about this new project.  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 January 12 CMS Migration Update, which includes: DHS Expands a Parole Program That Previously Applied Only to Venezuelans to Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans Arriving at the Southern Border of the United States DHS Announced a New Appointment System at the Southern Border in Preparation for a Pending Supreme Court Decision on Whether to End the Title 42 Policy DHS Will Expand Its Use of Expedited Removal at the Border and Apply it to Migrants Who Cannot be Expelled Under Title 42 DHS and DOJ Announced Their Intention to Issue a Proposed Rule That Would Deny Asylum to Those Who Did Not First Apply for Asylum in a Third Country 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 del 12 de enero, que incluye: DHS amplía un programa de libertad condicional que anteriormente se aplicaba solo a venezolanos a cubanos, haitianos y nicaragüenses que llegan a la frontera sur de los Estados Unidos El DHS anunció un nuevo sistema de citas en la frontera sur en preparación para una decisión pendiente de la Corte Suprema sobre la finalización de la política del Título 42 El DHS ampliará su uso de deportación acelerada en la frontera y lo aplicará a los migrantes que no pueden ser expulsados ​​según el Título 42 El DHS y el DOJ anunciaron su intención de emitir una regla propuesta que negaría el asilo a quienes no solicitaron asilo primero en un tercer país Migration-Related Stories, Op-Eds and Interviews by Catholic Bishops, Arch/Dioceses and Catholic Agency Executives Bishop (Emeritus) Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn: Two Saints: The Mother and Father of Migrants J. Kevin Appleby, Acting Executive Director - Center for Migration Studies of New York: Biden, Benedict and immigration: How U.S. border policy violates Catholic teaching Notable New Publications, Reports, Films, Articles, Etc. Center for Migration Studies Don Kerwin and Robert Warren, Journal on Migration and Human Security: Ten Years of Democratizing Data: Privileging Facts, Refuting Misconceptions and Examining Missed Opportunities The Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) initiated its “Democratizing Data” project in 2013 to make detailed demographic information widely available on the US undocumented, eligible to naturalize, and other non-citizen populations. The paper begins by outlining top-line findings and themes from the more than 30 CMS studies under this project and examines and refutes four persistent misconceptions that have inhibited public understanding and needed policy change. American Immigration Council: The Use of Parole Under Immigration Law The Biden administration recently announced a new parole program that will be available to 30,000 nationals of Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti each month. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has the authority to grant “parole” to certain noncitizens so they may temporarily enter or remain in the United States for specific reasons. This updated fact sheet from the American Immigration Council explains the nature of parole, how parole requests are considered, who may qualify, and what parole programs currently exist. Refugee Processing Center: Refugee Admissions Report as of December 31, 2022 Refugee Arrivals by State and Nationality as of December 31, 2022 Upcoming Webinar: St. Josephine Bakhita - A Saint for Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking We look forward to you joining us for this event. Register for this webinar. Other Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG) in Washington, D.C., January 28 – 31, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Limited spots are still available for the 2023 CSMG. Don’t miss out and register today. Don Bosco Cristo Rey (Takoma Park, MD) Virtual Career Fair, January 26, 2023 at 2-6 PM Eastern. Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School has partnered with @educationweek to host a virtual career fair on Thursday, Jan. 26th. Please share this exciting opportunity with anyone who is currently looking for a teacher, support staff, or administrator job. Register today, log in at any time, and join from any device! Catholic Charities USA Opportunity (CCUSA): Children, Youth, and Family Professional Section Steering Committee Member Recruitment. CCUSA is recruiting additional members to join the Children, Youth and Family Professional Section Steering Committee. We are seeking more representation from the regions of the Coastal Pacific, Midwest and Southeast states. The purpose, mission and vision of the CYFS Services Professional Interest Section are to provide information, formation and networking opportunities to staff and volunteers working with children, youth and families. If you are interested in becoming a steering committee member, please request more information! The deadline for submission of applications is Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (Seattle, WA): Strategic Nonviolence for Peace Advocacy Certificate Program. In order to prioritize peaceful interactions, peaceful resolutions to conflicts, and nonviolent communication, we must prioritize peace education. To that end, the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center is providing a certificate program designed to introduce participants to the philosophy and strategic theories that undergird nonviolence while also providing practical tools to enable participants to engage in nonviolence on a personal, interpersonal, and community level. Learn more and register today. 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.     USCCB | 3211 Fourth Street NE, Washington, DC 20017 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!