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CMS Migration Update is a weekly digest of news and other information related to national and international migration.  It is designed to educate faith leaders regarding vulnerable immigrant populations, developments in the immigration field, pastoral resources and the religious touchstones of diverse faith traditions on migrants and newcomers. It should not be relied upon to provide advice or counsel in immigration cases. The publication is provided by the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS), an educational institute/think-tank devoted to the study of international migration, to the promotion of understanding between immigrants and receiving communities, and to public policies that safeguard the dignity and rights of migrants, refugees and newcomers. CMS is a member of the Scalabrini International Migration Network, an international network of shelters, welcoming centers, and other ministries for migrants.
Thomas J. Shea
Editor
Rachel Reyes
Communications Coordinator
December 22, 2015

2016 Message of Pope Francis for World Day of Migrants and Refugees

News.VA (October 1, 2015)
 
The theme for the 2016 World Day of Migrants and Refugees on January 17, 2016 is “Migrants and Refugees Challenge Us: The Response of the Gospel of Mercy.” In advance of the day, Pope Francis released the Message of the Holy Father for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. While observing that many migrants are fleeing violence and poverty, the Holy Father expressed concern that migrants who survive exploitation by human traffickers and others then encounter suspicion and fear from native-born communities in their new lands. The Pope noted that many countries have no structure in place to facilitate the integration of migrants and refugees into their societies. Pope Francis stated that accepting migrants and refugees is a challenge to be merciful, and said, “Welcoming others is welcoming God in person!”
 
To read more, visit http://www.news.va/en/news/2016-message-for-world-day-of-migrants-and-refugee.

Pope Urges Review of Migration Laws to Help Refugees

Reuters (December 15, 2015)

The theme of this year’s World Day of Peace is “Overcome Indifference and Win Peace.” In a statement for the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis called on countries to review their migration laws to reflect “a readiness to welcome migrants and to facilitate their integration.” The Holy Father noted that offering legal residency to migrants could prevent them from having to live clandestine lives that might lead to criminal activity. The Pope’s statement comes at a time when some European countries are looking to close their borders to migrants and refugees, and the issue has been a staple of the Republican presidential debates.

To read more, visit http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-migrants-idUSKBN0TY1C420151215. 

Statement by His Excellency Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva at the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Burundi

(December 17, 2015) 
 
In response to the increasing violence by the ruling party against the people of Burundi, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi called on the President of the UN Human Rights Council to take immediate action to: (1) create an international structure to end to the violence and arms trafficking; (2) promote transparent dialogue and reconciliation; (3) ensure an inclusive and impartial mediation and monitoring of the conflict, and; (4) build conditions wherein refugees will feel safe to return voluntarily to their country.
 
To read more, visit http://cmsny.org/wp-content/uploads/Holy-See-HRC-Burundi.pdf. 

Keep This Religion in Our Politics

A View from the Border (Blog) (December 13, 2015)
 
To commemorate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a group of undocumented domestic workers, mostly women, organized a religious procession along the wall that separates the United States from Mexico. They carried a banner that read “Stop the Deportations,” along with images of the Virgin Mary. The author writes that the workers “were bringing to public prayer their own experiences of deep suffering and pain.” The procession was their effort to share the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe that the faithful should be strong, unafraid, and organized.
 
To read more, visit http://alongsideaborder.com/2015/12/13/keeping-religion-in-politics/. 

Free Online Assistance to Apply for Citizenship

CitizenshipWorks 2.0 (December 11, 2015)
 
Immigration Advocates Network and Pro Bono Net announced the public launch of Citizenshipworks 2.0, an online platform providing free help to eligible lawful permanent residents (green card holders) anywhere in the United States to apply for naturalization. People who are located far away from free or low-cost immigration legal service organizations can access free services through their computer. The platform will help low- to moderate-income immigrants to apply for naturalization on their own and to access – either in person or through virtual review – a national network of citizenship service providers to advise them on their applications.
 
To access Citizenshipworks 2.0, visit www.citizenshipworks.org (English) or www.citizenshipworks.org/es (Spanish). 
 
IAN and Pro Bono Net have also released a redesigned Citizenshipworks mobile app. To download, visit http://apple.co/1Q4H4s4 (iOS/Apple) or http://goo.gl/RhTdy5 (Android).
 
To learn more about which populations in your area of the United States are eligible to become US citizens, read CMS’s report entitled “The US Eligible-to-Naturalize Population: Detailed Social and Economic Characteristics.”  CMS has also released the following data tables on the naturalization-eligible:
 

CARA Urges Texas Officials To Deny Child Care Licenses to Detention Centers in Dilley and Karnes

AILA (December 11, 2015)
 
The CARA Pro Bono Project wrote to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) urging it not to adopt amendments to the Texas Human Resources Code that would permit the licensing of the family detention centers in Texas as childcare facilities. The letter states that both detention facilities continue to have substandard living conditions and medical services for detainees. CARA also points out that the proposed amendment goes against the stated mission of the DFPS, “which is to protect children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation” because the facilities were created to detain immigrants – not to provide care for children. The letter follows repeated human rights reports regarding the poor treatment of immigrant families, particularly children, in family detention centers in Texas.
 
To read more, visit http://www.aila.org/infonet/cara-pro-bono-project-submitted-letter-12-11-15?utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=de69317b77-AILA8_12_14_15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3c0e619096-de69317b77-291558253.

 

NEW FROM CMS

 

Support Grows for Ending Immigrant Detention by Private Corporations

December 15, 2015

The three Democratic presidential candidates – Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O’Malley – set forth their immigration policy plans at the 2015 National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC) in Brooklyn, New York.  In each of their addresses, the candidates expressed support for ending privately-owned immigrant detention centers, as well as family detention. These recommendations are consistent with the recommendations made in a 2015 report on the US immigrant detention system by CMS and Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

To read more, visit http://cmsny.org/end-private-detention/. 

Advancing Immigrant Integration, Well-Being and Empowerment

December 18, 2015
 
Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, addressed the 2015 National Immigrant Integration Conference on December 13, 2015. After discussing opportunities to reform the US immigration system, Bishop DiMarzio discussed the role of faith-based institutions in immigrant integration.  He concluded his remarks by offering approaches to conceptualizing integration.
 
To read more, visit http://cmsny.org/dimarzio-niic2015/.

If you are a migrant or pastoral worker and wish to submit an article or reflection to the CMS Migration Update, please email Tom Shea at tshea@cmsny.org
Copyright © 2015 Center for Migration Studies, New York, All rights reserved.


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