CMS Migration Update - September 21, 2016

A publication of the Center for Migration Studies (CMS)

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
Director of Communications

September 21, 2016

Cardinal Parolin Addresses Refugee Issues at UN Summit on Migration

(September 19, 2016)

On Monday, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, addressed participants of the UN General Assembly Summit on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants at an event entitled, “Responsibility and Solution Sharing: The Role of Religious Organizations Responding to Large Migrant and Refugee Movements” sponsored by the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, Caritas Internationalis and the International Catholic Migration Commission. Cardinal Parolin called for a common commitment to end violence and pursue peace and reconciliation. He stated: “The Holy See remains firmly convinced that, as Pope Francis has often stated, the way to resolve open questions must be that of diplomacy and dialogue.” Cardinal Parolin further reiterated the Holy See’s call to limit and control the manufacture and sale of weapons, and urged world leaders to address situations of extreme poverty and environmental degradation which cause people to move and make them vulnerable to human trafficking.

To read more, visit http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/09/20/cardinal_parolin_addresses_refugee_issues_at_un_summit/1259330.

The Unheard Cry

SIMN (September 19, 2016)

Fr. Florenzo Rigoni, director of Scalabrinian shelter Casa del Migrante in Tapachula, Mexico, also spoke at the event, “Responsibility and Solution Sharing: The Role of Religious Organizations Responding to Large Migrant and Refugee Movements,” sponsored by the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, Caritas Internationalis and the International Catholic Migration Commission. In his speech, Fr. Rigoni shared his experiences of the increasing numbers of migrants and refugees fleeing the violence in Central America’s Northern Triangle states (Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala). He urged states to find solutions to the Central American crisis, saying, “Here I stand before you as a man who became a cry of despair and keeps betting on a new horizon, because the migrants have taught me to invent – day after day – the reasons of my song of hope.”

To read more, visit http://www.simn-global.org/news_post.php?category=news&news_id=283.

Meditation for Prayer Service led by Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, Florida

(September 13, 2016)

His Eminence Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, delivered a meditation at the 2016 prayer service commemorating the start of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The prayer service organized by the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations preceded the UN General Assembly Summit on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants on September 19th. Archbishop Wenski said to participants: "We pray that you are filled with wisdom, compassion, and a generous spirit, and that you are guided by God and his wisdom." He further stated that every human being "has a right to live in conditions worthy of human life." If people are unable to find those conditions due to a lack of economic resources or because of oppression or persecution, they will often migrate in search of these conditions. Of the more than 65 million displaced people around the world – the most since World War II – 21 million are refugees. Furthermore, 11.5 million Syrians are currently displaced, 5 million of them living outside their country. Archbishop Wenski asked participants in the summit not only to agree to address the crisis but also to make "concrete commitments and responsibility sharing across all quarters." He called on the world community to work together to build a "future of hope" in those areas of the world where people feel pushed to depart in order to find better and more secure lives.

To read more, visit http://cmsny.org/event/wenski-meditation/.

United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants, New York City: September 19, 2016

On Monday, September 19th, the UN General Assembly hosted a high level summit on the large-scale movement of refugees and migrants in an effort to bring “countries together behind a more humane and coordinated approach.” This first-ever meeting aims to create a blueprint for an international response to the crisis. This website provides the summit program, the provisional list of speakers for the plenaries and roundtables, and access to official summit documents. The following day on September 20th, President Obama hosted a Leaders' Summit on Refugees, with Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, Jordan, Mexico and Sweden.

To read more, visit http://refugeesmigrants.un.org/summit.

Truth at the UN Refugee Summit

The Hill (September 19, 2016)

In an op-ed for The Hill, Kevin Appleby, Senior Director of International Migration Policy for CMS and the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN), writes that while nations are gathering at the UN to discuss responses to large movements of refugees and migrants, many developed states will be “implementing enforcement arrangements which seek to stem movements of refugees and migrants without sufficient protections, safeguards or process.” Appleby offers various examples including Australia’s offshore interdiction, detention and processing of refugees; the European Union’s deal with Turkey to return refugees to Turkey; and the arbitrary detention of families by the United States. Appleby urges nations to focus on protection and make stronger commitments to asylum screening and refugee resettlement.

To read more, visit http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/296533-truth-at-the-un-refugee-summit.

White House Aims to Take in 110,000 Refugees in Next Fiscal Year

ABC News (September 14, 2016)

The White House announced that the United States intends to resettle 110,000 refugees in FY 2017. The goal is a 30 percent increase over the 85,000 refugee ceiling imposed during FY 2016, although the country had admitted only 77,388 refugees as of September 13th. A senior Obama Administration official stated that the goal "is consistent with our belief that all countries should do more to help the world’s most vulnerable people."

To read more, visit http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-aims-11000-refugees-fiscal-year/story?id=42082038.

Arizona Attorney General Issues Opinion Establishing Constitutional Standards for Enforcement of Key SB 1070 Provisions, Ending Lawsuit

National Immigration Law Center (NILC) (September 15, 2016)

In 2010, Arizona passed a law (SB 1070) requiring state agencies, including law enforcement agencies, to verify the immigration status of people "where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien unlawfully present in the United States." Although courts have largely blocked implementation of the law, the Arizona Attorney General (AG) released an opinion instructing state law enforcement agencies on how to enforce the two provisions of the law that remain enforceable: Sections 2(B) and 2(D). This press release describes SB 1070 as the "show me your papers" law because of its requirement that state agencies verify a person's immigration status. According to the AG, law enforcement officers are prohibited from using race or ethnicity to create a reasonable suspicion that someone is present in the United States without authorization. Likewise, law enforcement officers are prohibited from stopping people for the sole purpose of questioning them about their immigration status. Also, if officers lawfully stop a person, they cannot then extend the stop in order to investigate the immigration status of that person. Senior staff attorney Omar Jadwat with the ACLU Immigrant Rights Project states, "This last step in the SB 1070 litigation makes it clear that what the legislature intended – and much of the immigration enforcement that police in Arizona previously engaged in – is unlawful. The attorney general’s legal opinion makes it clear that no one can be detained based on suspected immigration status, and no one can be targeted because of their race."

To read more, visit https://www.nilc.org/2016/09/15/arizona-attorney-general-issues-opinion-establishing-constitutional-standards-enforcement-key-sb-1070-provisions-ending-lawsuit/.

USCIS Celebrates Constitution Day and Citizenship Day with Federal Partners and Welcomes More Than 38,000 New Citizens During Constitution Week

US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (September 16, 2016)

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day commemorate the signing of the US Constitution on September 17, 1787. It is celebrated annually with swearing-in ceremonies where immigrants take the oath of allegiance to the United States and become US citizens. This press release announces that US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) scheduled nearly 240 naturalization swearing-in ceremonies during Constitution Week (September 16 to 23, 2016), naturalizing 38,000 people.

To read more, visit https://www.dhs.gov/news/2016/09/16/uscis-celebrates-constitution-day-and-citizenship-day-federal-partners-and-welcomes.

Ottawa Urged to Grant Permanent Status to Migrant Workers Upon Arrival

The Toronto Star (September 11, 2016)

Six years ago, Ms. Josarie Danieles, a Philippine national, took out a loan of $6,000 to pay a recruiter to bring her to Canada through a live-in care program. Ms. Danieles hoped to obtain permanent residence and then bring her two daughters from the Philippines. She was advised by the Canadian government earlier this year, however, that she would not receive permanent residence because one of her daughters has "intellectual retardation." In the years working 6-day weeks taking care of five adults and two children, Ms. Danieles has only been back to the Philippines once to see her family. She and others planned to share their stories at a news conference last Sunday to persuade the Canadian government to grant permanent residence to unskilled laborers when they first arrive in the Canada so that they are not exploited by unscrupulous employers. Fay Faraday, a labor and human rights lawyer, said: “Migrant caregivers are recruited to work in Canada to care for our family members with disabilities. Yet, after years of providing this care, they are denied the right to remain because their own family members have disabilities. That disconnect is jarring.”

To read more, visit https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2016/09/11/ottawa-urged-to-grant-permanent-status-to-migrant-workers-upon-arrival.html.

Germany Migrants: Residents Battle Asylum Seekers in Bautzen

BBC (September 15, 2016)

Last week, 80 far-right residents of the town of Bautzen in eastern Germany clashed with about 20 young asylum seekers. Following the incident, the asylum seekers were put under guard in their asylum center and placed under curfew. Since the arrival of 1.1 million irregular migrants and refugees in the past year, the area has seen an increase in anti-immigrant violence and an increase in support for the anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party. Chancellor Angela Merkel has welcomed the migrants and refugees into Germany but some Germans fear the large influx of migrants and refugees will destabilize German society. According to the article, in 2016, there have been 700 attacks on asylum accommodations including 57 arson attacks. Support for the AfD continues to grow, posing a possible threat to Chancellor Merkel's national government.

To read more, visit http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37372029.

NEW FROM CMS

The Central American Humanitarian Crisis and US Policy Responses

(September 20, 2016)

CMS and the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN), a not-for-profit organization focusing on protection and development programs for migrants, traveled to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico from August 15 to 22, 2016 to visit migrant shelters operated by the religious Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, Scalabrinians. The delegation toured migrant detention and return facilities, met with public officials and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and assessed how the US-Mexico policies of deterrence and interdiction have impacted the region and particularly those seeking to flee the record levels of violence in the Northern Triangle states of Central America. CMS and SIMN issued this report to detail their findings and offer recommendations to improve US policy responses.

To read more, visit http://cmsny.org/publications/the-central-american-humanitarian-crisis-and-us-policy-responses/.

Borders and Duties to the Displaced: Ethical Perspectives on the Refugee Protection System

David Hollenbach, S.J. (September 15, 2016)

In a recently released paper for the Journal on Migration and Human Security, Father David Hollenbach, S.J. (Georgetown University) proposes some ethical principles to guide the process of reassessing the global refugee protection system in light of the extraordinarily high levels of refugee movement and forced migration today.

To read more, visit http://cmsny.org/publications/borders-and-duties-to-the-displaced/.

Migration Experts Series | David Hollenbach, S.J.

(September 15, 2016)

Father David Hollenbach, S.J., the Pedro Arrupe Distinguished Research Professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and senior fellow at the Berkley Center, discusses his paper, "Borders and Duties to the Displaced: Ethical Perspectives on the Refugee Protection System."

To watch, visit http://cmsny.org/multimedia/mes-david-hollenbach/.

Safe and Voluntary Refugee Repatriation: From Principle to Practice

Jeff Crisp and Katy Long (September 13, 2016)

In this new Journal on Migration and Human Security article, Jeff Crisp (University of Oxford) and Katy Long (University of Edinburgh) write on the principles of voluntariness, safety, and dignity in the context of refugee repatriation. The paper begins by setting out the applicable legal framework, and discusses how that framework has been elaborated upon and refined since 1951. The article then discusses how the principles of voluntariness, safety, and dignity have, in practice, been applied (or ignored). After noting that we are now living in an era of protracted refugee emergencies, the article concludes with a number of recommendations regarding alternatives to repatriation and the conditions under which repatriation can take place without offending these principles.

To read more, visit http://cmsny.org/publications/jmhs-safe-and-voluntary-refugee-repatriation/.

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

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