New Americans Campaign. In 2011, a diverse nonpartisan national network of respected immigration organizations, legal services providers, faith-based organizations, immigrant rights groups, foundations and community leaders, including the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), founded the New Americans Campaign. Now ten years old, the campaign educates and informs those eligible for naturalization. See the benefits of naturalized citizenship and an introduction to the naturalization process here.
Border patrol processing specialists. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is, for the first time, fielding teams of social service workers to relieve some of the agents from non-enforcement duties. The first class of coordinators has graduated and will be assigned to give humanitarian services to detainees. Read more here.
Task force on Black immigrants needed. A group of over 100 advocacy groups, including CLINIC, are requesting that the Biden Administration establishes a high level task force on Black immigration issues. “Examining and addressing issues affecting Black immigrants in the U.S. immigration system is necessary to meaningfully address systemic, anti-Black racism in America, as the Biden administration has pledged to do. Accordingly, a Task Force and dedicated resources are needed to begin this crucial work.”
ICYMI – Justice for Immigrants. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops sponsors the Justice for Immigrants campaign. Make sure that you are not missing out on any of the new materials we are putting on the @USCCBJFI website. See JFI transition documents and the new FAQs on recent executive actions. Go to http://justiceforimmigrants.org and scroll to the bottom of any page and fill out the form.
Who cares for the “unaccompanied children” after they cross the southern border? When children cross the border without adult accompaniment, Catholic Charities from the border dioceses and throughout the United States reach out with shelter and assistance in family reunification.
ICYMI – Do you want a “deep dive” into current immigration law and practice? Ever year CLINIC offers a comprehensive set of seminars and courses analyzing the current state of the law. Never has it been more important to keep up to date as the new Biden administration makes changes instituted by the Trump administration. The annual convening will be virtual this year. See registration information here.