USCCB Migration Committee To Travel To U.S.-Mexico Border To Remember Fallen Migrants, Highlight Human Consequences Of Broken Immigration System

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (March 6, 2014)

Following the example of Pope Francis’s 2013 Mass for refugees on the island of Lampedusa, Italy, bishops from the USCCB Migration Committee along with bishops from along the U.S.-Mexican border will visit Nogales, Arizona from March 30th through April 1st to tour the border and to celebrate Mass on April 1st at the border wall in remembrance of the nearly 6,000 migrants who have died in the desert since 1998. The visit and Mass are also intended to bring attention to the suffering that the current broken immigration system is causing families and to emphasize the need for comprehensive immigration reform to fix the system.

To read more, visit http://www.usccb.org/news/2014/14-049.cfm.

Join U.S. Bishops on the Border in Solidarity with Immigrants

Ignatian Solidarity Network

In anticipation of the April 1st Mass by Catholic bishops in Nogales, Arizona, the Ignatian Solidarity Network provides a list of activities that you can engage in to show solidarity with immigrants along the border.  From organizing Masses or prayer services or a rally for immigrants to joining the Thunderclap for humane immigration reform, there are ways that you can join the bishops to show your support for immigrants in the borderland.

To learn more, visit http://ignatiansolidarity.net/immigrant-solidarity-catholic-bishops-border/.

Vatican, Anglicans and Muslims Sign Human Trafficking Accord

CatholicHerald.co.uk (March 17, 2014)

On St. Patrick’s Day, the Vatican, the Anglican Communion, and a leading Muslim institution signed an accord to partner on ending human trafficking. The agreement calls for the religions “to prevent modern forms of slavery; to protect, rescue and rehabilitate victims; and to promote concrete measures that condemn or criminalise human trafficking.” The signing of the accord marked the launch of the Global Freedom Network.

To read more, visit http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/03/17/vatican-anglicans-and-muslims-sign-human-trafficking-accord/.

Migration on the Move

Project Syndicate (March 17, 2014)

The United Nations must add migration to its list of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a list of development projects that include reducing poverty, promoting gender equality, and curbing disease.  In 2013, migrants sent over $414 billion in remittances to their home countries helping the local economies as well as their families.  Migrants clearly make a positive contribution to the world economy, and world leaders must address ways to ensure that money migrants earn makes it to their families while also protecting migrants’ rights and preventing discrimination against them.

To read more, visit https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/peter-sutherland-and-william-l--swing-explain-why-migration-is-likely-to-gain-a-prominent-place-in-the-post-2015-development-agenda.

Frustrations Over Inertia on Immigration Law Bring Pressure for Fixes

The National Catholic Reporter (March 17, 2014)

With comprehensive immigration reform dying a slow death in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and with deportations approaching an all-time record high, advocates have pressured President Obama to take executive action to stop deportations.  Although President Obama has directed the Department of Homeland Security to investigate ways to make enforcement of the immigration laws more humane, he pointed out that the broken immigration system will not be fixed without legislative (i.e., Congressional) action.

To read more, visit http://ncronline.org/blogs/immigration-and-church/frustrations-over-inertia-immigration-law-bring-pressure-fixes.

Obama to Hispanics: We Won’t Deport Relatives Because you Enroll in ObamaCare

The Hill (March 18, 2014)

In an interview with Univision Deportes, a Spanish-language sports radio show, President Obama reassured listeners that they can sign-up for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) without having the immigration authorities show-up to arrest and deport their family members who are in the United States without authorization.  President Obama stated that the immigration authorities will not have access to personal information of people who apply for healthcare coverage. This has been a major concern of people in mixed-status families where some family members have legal status and other family members are undocumented.  People with legal status fear they are opening up their undocumented family members to possible deportation if they come forward to apply for health insurance coverage.

To read more, visit http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/201076-obama-makes-o-care-pitch-to-hispanics-the#ixzz2wjNq1ulZ.

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