Efforts to Fight Anti-Immigrant and Anti-Refugee Policies Update

Migration and Refugee Services, under the U.S. Catholic Bishops, are actively working to support unaccompanied children, refugees, and victims of human trafficking by implementing migration policy and advocacy initiatives. The current state of migration policy in the U.S. involves executive orders related to border security, interior enforcement, and refugee resettlement, prompting responses from MRS and JFI, as well as legislative considerations in Congress. Efforts are being made to address funding issues, enforcement actions concerning sanctuary cities, and the treatment of unaccompanied children.

• Migration Services
• Refugee Support
• Immigration Policy
• Advocacy Initiatives
• U.S. Catholic Bishops

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1. Current Efforts to Fight Anti-Immigrant and Anti-Refugee Policies June 9, 2017

2. Migration and Refugee Services Serves unaccompanied children, refugees and human trafficking victims Implements migration policy and advocacy initiatives of the U.S. Catholic Bishops Derives policy goals from: Catholic Social Teaching on Migration Bishops Priorities on Migration MRS Programs that Serve Populations of Concern Works with federal government (1)Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); (2) Department of Homeland Security (DHS); (3) Department of Justice; (4) Department of State Oversees Justice for Immigrants (JFI) National Coalition of Catholic Organizations 170 dioceses throughout the country; 675 points of contact in Dioceses and Parishes

3. Current State of Migration Policy in the U.S. EXECUTIVE Migration-Related Executive Orders LEGISLATIVE Looming Funding Issues Legislative Fight on Unaccompanied Children, Border Security, Sanctuary Cities COMMUNITY Fear in Communities Raids and Enforcement Operations

4. EXECUTIVE: 3 Migration-Related Executive Orders Executive Order on Border Security Building of Another Wall on U.S./Mexico Border Increase Border Patrol Increase in Immigrant Detention Executive Order on Interior Enforcement Dramatically Expands Who Is A Priority for Removal Attempts to Defund Sanctuary Jurisdictions Executive Order on Refugee Resettlement and Arrivals from Certain Countries Attempts to Pause Resettlement, Lower Refugee Arrivals and Ban Certain Individuals from Arriving from Certain Countries

5. MRS and JFI Response to 3 Migration-Related Executive Orders 10 statements issued on Executive Orders; 48 Individual Bishop Statements Engagement of JFI- grassroots 65,000 electronic postcards sent on Executive Orders 52,000+ on BRIDGE ACT and protection of DREAMER youth generally Engagement of Administrative Leadership

6. LEGISLATIVE: TAKING CUES FROM EXECUTIVE Congress has been less active since January but is showing signs of resurgence Future Issues: Funding for Fiscal Year 2018 Enforcement Efforts- Sanctuary Cities, Enforcement- Only Bills Designation of Unaccompanied Children

7. LEGISLATIVE: RESPONSE Fighting Enforcement-Only Legislative Efforts HR 2431 Upcoming Cornyn/McCaul Defending Protections for Unaccompanied Children TVPA Reauthorization Efforts Protection of Children Act Shoring up Funding for Fiscal Year 2018 Affirmatively for UAC, Refugee Programs Denying Funding for Detention and Wall

8. COMMUNITY: FEAR and APPREHENSION Families are concerned about living daily lives- attendance to school and Church have been down in some communities Cities, states evaluating whether to adopt sanctuary city measures Local service providers assisting with KYRs, screenings and family emergency custody plans

9. CHURCH RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY FEAR Education and Self-Help and Protection USCCB Videos Larger Catholic Service Network Accompaniment Church Leaders in El Paso, Las Cruces, Austin, Newark, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Northern California taking public stands on individual cases and local issues Engagement Meeting with ICE Field Offices and local communities Solidarity Support through public witness and acknowledgement National Day of Prayer- Our Lady of Guadalupe Vatican Campaign for Migration

10. What is Next? Fight Over Funding Pending Litigation TPS Battles in the Fall Addressing Family Separation Due to Deportation

11. How to Prepare (1)Funding: Eyes on the Prize-Stay Focused (2)Connect the Dots-Show the Damage (3)Include New Allies (4)Recognize and Appreciate the Different Elements of the Effort

12. What Can You Do? INDIVIDUAL: Oppose Executive Orders and Support Humane Migration Initiatives www.justiceforimmigrants.org Set Up & Participate in In-District Meetings on Migration Issues Support Local Service Providers and Welcoming Parish Activities PRAY and WELCOME NEWCOMERS COMMUNITY: Read JFI s 10 Things You Can Do to Accompany Immigrants www.justiceforimmigrants.org Assist and Promote Welcoming Activities in Your Parish PRAY and WELCOME NEWCOMERS

13. Questions? www.justiceforimmigrants.org Ashley Feasley- afeasley@usccb.org