MIGRATION UPDATE

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
January 6, 2015

Recognition of the Immigrant’s Humanity is a Prerequisite for Genuine Legal Reform


C. Mario Russell, Esq. (November 22, 2013)
 
In a 2013 address delivered to the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at St. John’s University, C. Mario Russell stated that, in order for immigrants to find their rightful place in American society, they must be viewed as “full persons”; i.e., as persons with dignity and rights who exist within the fabric of the “social charter.” Mr. Russell argued that for meaningful, effective, and durable change in immigration policy, supporters of immigrants must learn to give voice to the human experience of immigrants and society must come to view immigrants as persons, not as “others” or “aliens”. According to Mr. Russell, “historical law reforms and conventional lawyering are not the tools for achieving genuine change in immigration.”

To read more, visit http://cmsny.org/wp-content/uploads/MarioRusselTalk-2013.pdf

National Migration Week January 4-10, 2015

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration & Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS)

National Migration Week runs from January 4-10, 2015. The 2015 theme is “We Are One Family Under God” and focuses on how the current immigration system often separates family members. This website offers resources to allow visitors to better celebrate National Migration Week, including prayer cards and information about the Catholic Church’s work against human trafficking and work to protect refugees and unaccompanied children.

To read more, visit http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-and-refugee-services/national-migration-week/index.cfm.

In Sweden, the Land of the Open Door, Anti-Muslim Sentiment Finds a Foothold

The New York Times (January 2, 2015)

Over the course of 10 days, mosques in Sweden experienced three arson attacks. Sweden receives the third highest number of asylum applications in the European Union, behind Germany and France. However, Sweden’s economic troubles, growing public fear of Islamic radicalism, and a consistent stream of migrants into the country from the Middle East and North Africa appear to have caused a backlash against immigrants -- with Muslims receiving the most violent reaction.

To read more, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/03/world/in-sweden-the-land-of-the-open-door-anti-muslim-sentiment-finds-a-foothold.html?emc=edit_tnt_20150102&nlid=47251438&tntemail0=y&_r=0.

Ellis Island Opened 123 Years Ago on January 1, 1892

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. (January 1, 2015) 

The first person processed through Ellis Island was Annie Moore, a 17-year-old girl from Ireland. She was reunited with her parents in New York City, where she grew-up, married, and had 10 children. Two statues honor her. One is in Ireland at her port of departure and the other is on Ellis Island, her port of arrival. More than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island before it closed in 1954.

To read more about Annie Moore visit http://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/annie-moore. To read more about Ellis Island, visit http://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/ellis-island-history.

Immigration action 2.0: Lessons Learned from DACA

MSNBC.com (December 29, 2014) 

More than 580,000 young undocumented immigrants have successfully applied for President Obama’s 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The expanded DACA program is expected to begin in February 2015, and the new Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) is expected to open in May 2015.  Advocates are preparing to assist with expanded DACA and DAPA applications. While some immigrant communities are more informed about DACA and DAPA, other groups will require more focused outreach in order to learn about the programs and feel comfortable enough to apply. 

To read more, visit http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/immigration-action-lessons-learned-daca.

At Least 2,300 Migrants Saved off Italian Coast on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

The Guardian (December 26, 2014)

During a number of naval operations on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Italian Navy rescued at least 2,300 migrants -- most of whom were in boats off the coast of Sicily.  This article reports that there has been a massive increase in migrants caught trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe.  Between the beginning of 2014 through December 17, 2014, almost 168,000 migrants -- mostly from Eritrea and warn-torn Syria -- arrived in Italy by sea.

To read more, visit http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/26/1300-migrants-saved-italian-coast-christmas-day.

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