Please see below for the latest updates from JFI.

TAKE ACTION: JFI Action Alerts

JFI has two active action alerts, one for the Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act (PVIYA) and another for the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA). In the last two weeks, Bishop Seitz sent letters on behalf of the USCCB in support of the AAA and PVIYA. The links for the action alerts are:

Please send the action alerts to your national networks and ask your advocates to send advocacy messages to their U.S. Senators and Representatives.

REMINDER: 2023 National Migration Week/World Day of Migrants and Refugees

National Migration Week will take place September 18 – 24 and concludes with the Vatican sponsored World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) on September 24. This year’s theme, “Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay,” shines a light on the root causes that drive migration. In preparation for this celebration, please take an opportunity to read Pope Francis’ WDMR message. Be sure to check out the Justice for Immigrant’s NMW page and toolkit, where we expand on the theme and suggest possible ways for your community to get involved.

PCMRT Visit to Yakima, WA – August 28-29, 2024

The USCCB Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees & Travelers (PCMRT) held its Episcopal Encounter with Migrant Farmworkers on Aug. 28-29, 2023, in the Diocese of Yakima.

The PCMRT delegation’s activities included visits to agricultural work sites, migrant housing and ministry locations, and times for prayer, reflection and exchange with migrants and leaders in ministries serving communities. Sincere gratitude to Bishop Tyson of Yakima and Auxiliary Bishops Elizondo and Schuster of Seattle (pictured) for joining the delegation.

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 August 29 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

  • Biden Sponsorship Program Faces Its First Legal Test
  • DHS Announces $77 Million In Support to Local Communities to House Immigrants
  • United States Provides Humanitarian Assistance to Help Manage Migration In the Western Hemisphere

View the August 23 CMS Migration Update, which includes:

  • DHS Extends and Re-designates Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine and Sudan
  • US-Mexico Border Encounters Increase In July
  • DHS Modernizes Process for Cuban and Haitian Family Reunification Program

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 29 de agosto, que incluye:

  • El programa de patrocinio de Biden enfrenta su primera prueba legal
  • DHS anuncia $77 millones en apoyo a comunidades locales para albergar a inmigrantes
  • Estados Unidos brinda asistencia humanitaria para ayudar a gestionar la migración en el hemisferio occidental

Ver la Actualización de Migración del CMS del 23 de agosto, que incluye:

  • El DHS extiende y redesigna el estatus de protección temporal para Ucrania y Sudán
  • Encuentros en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México aumentan en julio
  • DHS moderniza proceso para programa de reunificación familiar cubana y haitiana

Notable New Publications, Reports, Films, Articles, Etc.

This report details the Biden administration’s special parole initiatives that have welcomed more than 350,000 people since 2021. It also explores potential temporary and permanent mechanisms through which parolees may be able to remain in the United States.

The Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) of 2023, S.2327/H.R.4627, is a bipartisan bill that would provide a path to permanent status to tens of thousands of Afghans who were evacuated to the U.S. following the fall of Kabul in August 2021. The legislation expands on reporting and vetting provisions in earlier iterations of the Afghan Adjustment Act and establishes an authorization for appropriations, to ensure that eligible Afghan evacuees have received rigorous vetting and screening, while providing pathways to protection for those left behind and at risk outside of the United States.

This blog post shares insights drawn from 55 community stakeholder interviews on the consequences of parole status on Afghan evacuees’ lives. They expressed that the tenuous nature of evacuees’ immigration status has posed a critical structural barrier to their well-being and ultimately success in the U.S.

Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and Resources

Human Trafficking and College Campuses Webinar – September 13, 2023 at 1 PM Eastern

For some, attending college is a pivotal time that involves meeting new people and testing the waters of independence. It can also be a time of increased vulnerability. In addition to the disproportionately higher rates of sexual assaults occurring on college campuses, there is also the risk of sex trafficking. In some instances, it is also a time when some learn about human trafficking in their classes and decide to become anti-trafficking advocates. In this webinar, the U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking will focus on human trafficking with particular attention to what is happening on college campuses across the United States. Please register in advance.

20th Annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference, September 18, 2023 in Washington, DC

This year’s Immigration Law and Policy Conference, organized by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., Migration Policy Institute, and the Georgetown University Law Center, will be a hybrid event. The in-person conference will be held at the Lohrfink Auditorium on Georgetown University’s Main Campus in Washington, D.C., and will also be livestreamed for virtual attendees. The conference will feature fresh, thoughtful policy and legal analysis, and discussion of some of the top immigration issues by leading government officials, attorneys, policymakers, researchers, advocates, and other experts. We look forward to your participation.

Other Events

  • Helping Maui. As the death toll from the wildfire in Maui continues to rise, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i is accepting monetary donations online to support the people affected. Catholic Charities will use 100% of your donation for victims of the Maui wildfires. Donations via check can be made to “Catholic Charities Hawai‘i.” Please write “Maui Relief” in the memo section and mail it to: Catholic Charities Hawai’i 1822 Keeaumoku St. Honolulu, HI 96822.
  • Archdiocese of Seattle’s Ukrainian Family Fun Day, September 16, 2023 at 11 AM. Join as we welcome and meet Ukrainian families, many who have been supported through the Archdiocese’s Welcome Circles program for Ukrainian refugees. There will be food, games, music, and much more! The day will end with a Mass in Ukrainian for the community. This is an opportunity to build bridges between Ukrainians who are new to our parishes and communities. Most Ukrainian refugees are Catholic, and it’s an opportunity to make them feel part of the our Catholic community. All are welcome to join at St. George 5306 13th Ave S, Seattle, WA.
  • Catholic Diocese of Arlington (VA): CALLED: A Conference for Young Adults, September 23, 2023. Bishop Michael Burbidge invites all young adults (ages 19 to 35, single and married) from parishes across the diocese to join him at CALLED: A Conference for Young Adults. The day will include Mass, breakout sessions, dinner, prayer, live music, vendors, ministry booths, and plenty of social time. Reserve your space now.
  • Volunteer with Catholic Charities of New York. Catholic Charities NY seeks volunteers to support single-day events such as our Community Legal Clinics throughout the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley and our Immigration Court Helpdesk Project in downtown Manhattan. Community Legal Clinics are single-day general immigration legal screening clinics designed to provide remote New York communities with access to legal information, brief services, including on site application assistance for those who qualify, and referrals for representation. Learn how to get involved.

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend,

Tony Cube

Stay Connected: Email us at JFI@usccb.org.