Further, we call on Congress to oppose legislation that devalues immigrants and the contributions they make to our communities and economy including: opposing bills proposing the elimination of funding for sanctuary cities and other welcoming programs; ending programs and protocols such as Operation Streamline, the detention bed mandate, and family detention; and protecting and upholding DACA as we wait for legislative solutions to our broken immigration system.
Catholic Social Teaching tells us that it is our “duty to welcome the foreigner out of charity and respect for the dignity and rights of the human person.” Currently there are 36 million foreign-born immigrants living in the United States, 11 million of whom are undocumented. Under current legislation there is no pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who consider the United States home and who are are contributing to society, making up 5.2% of the labor force and contributing over $10 billion annually to state and local tax revenues. Additionally, for every day that there is inaction on immigration reform, families continue to be ripped apart by deportation. In 2013, 369,000 undocumented immigrants were deported, costing the American taxpayers $20,000 per deportation and stripping immigrant families of the opportunity to be united. As violence escalates and poverty remains endemic in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, over 45,000 unaccompanied children, many under the age of 12, have surged the United States-Mexican border seeking asylum. At present, most of the children wait for their cases to be heard, relying on the judgement of immigration courts to dictate whether they will receive the protection of refugee status.
The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), the body of law governing current immigration policy, provides for an annual worldwide limit of 675,000 permanent immigrants, with certain exceptions for close family members. Congress and the President determine a separate number for refugee admissions. Historically, admittance of immigrants to the United States has been based upon three principles: the reunification of families, admitting immigrants with skills that are valuable to the U.S. economy, and protecting refugees. [Source: Immigration Policy Center]
FEATURED RESOURCE: Understanding President Trump’s Executive Actions Webinar
The President’s January 25 executive action related to immigration:
[Source: The White House]
The President’s January 27 executive action related to refugees and migration:
[Source: The White House]
The former President’s executive action:
[Source: The White House]
1. Find out who represents you and where where they stand on immigration.
An important first step of advocacy is making sure you know who represents you. There are a number of tools that can help you by simply asking for your home address. Here is one resource (Common Cause) that will list both your federal and state officials. The next step is to find out what your elected officials’ position is on immigration. One place where you can find this information is on their individual websites. Below you can find additional links to helpful resources.
2. Meet With Your Members of Congress
Establishing and continuing relationships with your Senators and Representatives is crucial to advocating for justice. As both representatives and members of your communities, every Senator and Representative has an office–often multiple offices–in their home states. Visits to these offices are an impactful way to speak, neighbor to neighbor, with representatives and let them know why and how the laws and policies pertaining to immigration reform impacts your community.
Webinar: Understanding President Trump’s Executive Actions on Immigration and Refugees
Right to Asylum Under Siege [Source: Hope Border Institute]
Expiration Dates for All Current Countries with TPS [Source: CLINIC]
FAQs about Family Detention [Source: CLINIC]
Family Detention Talking Points [Source: Justice for Immigrants]
Immigrant Detention Bed Mandate [Source: USCCB Migration & Refugee Service]
Unlocking Human Dignity: A Plan to Transform the U.S. Immigrant Detention System [Source: USCCB & CCM]
VIDEO | Immigration Detention: What You Should Know [Source: Al Jazeera]
What Is Keeping Families Apart? [Source: United We Dream]
How the United States Immigration System Works [Source: Immigration Policy Center]
Tackling the Toughest Questions on Immigration Reform [Source: Immigration Policy Center]
Advocacy Guide: A Challenging Moment for the Protection of Migrant Rights and Human Rights in the Northern Triangle of Central America & Across the Migrant Route [Source: Latin America Working Group]
Complete Guide to Obama’s Executive Action on Immigration
Arguments FOR and AGAINST Executive Action on Immigration
Can Obama’s executive order on immigration be undone?
Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration Study Guide and Discussion Questions for Parishes [Source: USCCB]
Provincials of the Society of Jesus
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Unaccompanied Child Migrants from Central America: Where Are They Now? (NPR, 05.13.15)
An Undocumented Student’s Experience (Fairfield University, 04.08.14)
My DREAM (Maria Ibarra Frayre, Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, 11.15.13)
President Obama’s Address to Nation on Immigration (The White House, 11.24.14)
Peña Nieto on the U.S. immaigration debate (CNN, 10.3.14)
Deported: A View from the Other Side (Jon Huckins, Sojourners, 7.23.14)
Detainees Fear Deportation to Mexico (CNN, 3.30.12)
Novena for Migrant Families (Jesuit Social Research Institute)
Praying the Rosary with Our Lady of Guadalupe and Tales of Immigrants (Catholic Legal Immigration Network)
Migrant Way of the Cross (Diocese of Metuchen)
A Prayer for Migrant Children (USCCB)
Loving Father/Padre Amoroso (USCCB)
Prayer for Those Who Migrate (Education for Justice)
Prayer for Our Migrant Sisters and Brothers (Education for Justice)
Collected Prayers for Immigrants (Interfaith Worker Justice)
A Scriptural Reflection on Migrants: Solidarity, Hope, and Hospitality (Education for Justice)
Liturgy and Prayer Suggestions (Justice for Immigrants, USCCB)
Prayer Service for Just and Humane Immigration Reform (Sisters of Mercy)
Prayers and Intentions for Immigrants and Immigration Reform (Archdiocese of Chicago)
Loyola Marymount University
Provision of resources and scholarships for undocumented (AB 540) students.
Wheeling Jesuit University
Service immersions to Boston, MA and El Paso, TX are two opportunities where students can learn about and experience immigrants’ reality in the United States.
Fairfield University, Santa Clara University, and Loyola University Chicago
Immigrant Student National Position Paper
Research “seeks to provide presidential leadership in higher education regarding undocumented students, and critically analyze the issues and challenges to bring immigration to the forefront of discussion around policy and access.”
*Don’t see your parish, school, or institution listed? Have more information to add? Let us know! Email info@ignatiansolidarity.net
Immigration Action Priorities
Schedule Legislative Visits With Your Members of Congress
At A Glance
11 million
people without documentation are currently living in the U.S., seeking access to a pathway to citizenship
$21.6 billion
Estimated cost of President Trump’s border wall
65,000
undocumented students graduate from American high schools. Many hope to pursue higher education, join the military, or enter the workforce, but their lack of legal status places those dreams in jeopardy and exposes them to deportation.
News from the Network
From the Blog
In the News
Kristen Lionetti, Policy Director of the National Advocacy Office of the Jesuit Conference, and Giulia McPherson, Director of Advocacy and Operations for Jesuit Refugee Service/USA offer insights on President Trump’s January 2017 executive actions on immigration and refugees.
Georgetown University alumnus Senator Dick Durbin shares story of University of Detroit Mercy alumna, former Jesuit volunteer, and former Jesuit Volunteer Corps Program member Maria Ibarra- Frayre.
