Pray for Those Impacted By the Hurricane. Also, please pray especially for undocumented families who may be afraid to request the help they need for fear of detention.

Stay Up to Date. Get the latest updates from Justice for Immigrants by following @USCCBJFI on Twitter and signing up for their newsletter at the bottom of any page of their website. Justice for Immigrants provides updates on backgrounders, webinars and the latest week in review.

The Administration Continues to Separate Families. For the latest information, visit the Justice for Immigrants website. A webinar is coming soon.

Why is Human Trafficking So Prevalent? Learn about factors that have allowed this modern day slavery to become the fastest growing source of illicit profit for criminals worldwide and a $150 billion industry.

ICYMI – “Building Communities of Welcome” – National Migration Week 2019. Be ready to celebrate National Migration Week in January 2019. Review the helpful tool kit prepared by Migration and Refugee Services.

“Building Communities of Welcome” – National Migration Week 2019. Get ready to celebrate National Migration Week in January 2019. Review the helpful tool kit prepared by Migration and Refugee Services.

Fight Immigration Fraud. Sad as it may be, there are people who prey on the vulnerable. Learn how to protect yourself and those with whom you associate by participating in a free webinar from Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC).

An Archbishop, Priest and Religious Woman Visit “the Dilly.” The immigration center in Dilly, Texas is one of the largest family detention centers in the United States. Read about the Catholic Church ministering to the detainees.

DACCA Continues to Be Effective, But Just Barely. Despite efforts of the Trump Administration, the DACA program is still in operation, but barely. Click here to read an update on this program that helps young people brought to the United States by their parents.

Atlanta Will No Longer Accept ICE Detainees. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has signed an executive order to prevent the holding of individuals designated by ICE because of her concerns about separating immigrant children from parents.

National Migration Week 2019. It is not too early to plan for National Migration Week in January 2019. Justice for Immigrants (JFI) will host a webinar to help generate ideas for parishes on Thursday, September 6, at 2:00 p.m. If you miss this or other JFI webinars, you can catch up on their website.

Want More Information on Immigration? JFI can help. Sign up for their latest news and updates, including the week in review, news about the national conference in December and more. Just go to the bottom of any page on the JFI website and sign up today!

Rest in Peace Senator John McCain. The late Senator John McCain was eulogized for many achievements, but should also be remembered for supporting rational immigration policy, even though many in his party and state opposed him on this issue. Read reflections of his support for DACA recipients.

U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. At a time when the Administration is reviewing the number of refugees permitted into the Refugee Resettlement program, please take time to review a webinar from the Center for Migration Studies examining “How Refugees Help to Define, Strengthen and Revitalize the United States.”

What Are the Options After Deportation? We hear about deportations but who helps those deported after they return to their country of origin? Read about the ministry of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in a town across the border from McAllen, Texas.

Family of Murdered Woman Does Not Want Her Death Used for Politics. An allegedly undocumented immigrant was charged with the death of an Iowa woman, Mollie Tibbets. Many have used her death as an opportunity to attack immigration policy, but her family asked politicians to back off. Whatever one man has done does not condemn all.

Immigration Services Fraud is a Real Issue. As many seek advice and assistance to obtain citizenship or other immigration benefits, unscrupulous individuals prey on their hopes by offering “services” that are fraudulent and ineffective. Learn about these concerns and best practices with a helpful webinar.

ICYMI – Justice for Immigrants Conference. For current information and resources on immigration and networking, consider attending the JFI Conference in Arlington, Virginia on December 5-7, 2018.

ICYMI – Can You Help? We have an immediate need for volunteers to work with immigrants in all areas of metro Atlanta and North Georgia. If you are Safe Environment approved and available to drive someone to an ICE check-in or court date, please email Kat Doyle at kdoyle@archatl.com as soon as possible. We expect this to be an ongoing need. If you are interested in helping and are not Safe Environment approved, please contact Kat Doyle to begin the process.

Justice for Immigrants Conference. If you want current information and resources on immigration and networking, consider attending the JFI Conference in Arlington, Virginia on December 5-7, 2018.

Be Unafraid. We all have fears to face. Read stories of courageous refugees who fled their homes and now share their journeys.

What is the Status of DACA? The federal district judge who ordered the administration to begin accepting new DACA registrations has modified the earlier order to only require processing of renewal applications. Keep in touch with your qualified immigration legal adviser so you can take the best actions.

ICYMI – What Are the Alternatives to Immigration Detention? Learn more by viewing a recent webinar from Justice For Immigrants.

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Finds “Sanctuary Cities” Policy Unconstitutional. The Administration is attempting to restrict or eliminate benefits to local governments that do not sufficiently cooperate with Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Similar policies are being discussed in the Georgia gubernatorial election. While a federal court of appeals ruled that this federal policy is unconstitutional, it does not assure that a Georgia court would rule the same way.

Church Offers Respite to Migrants in McAllen, Texas. Sister Norma Pimentel, a member of the Missionaries of Jesus and executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, created a place of respite and care for migrants crossing the southern border in McAllen, Texas. Her ministry has been recognized publicly by Pope Francis during his visit to the United States, Notre Dame University and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Interfaith Procession in El Paso, Texas. Interfaith leaders, alongside El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz and other Catholic bishops, led a 900-strong procession through downtown El Paso on July 20 that ended with a candlelight vigil for the plight of migrants and refugees. Across the Rio Grande border from Juarez, Mexico, El Paso has reached out to migrants passing through the city.

ICYMI — Why Would Parents Leave Their Children Behind in Another Country? Allegedly, parents seeking asylum in the United States, but nonetheless deported, have agreed to leave their children in the United States. However, a recent report shows that the government frequently does not ask questions, but just deports. The government’s lack of knowledge makes it even more difficult to reunite parents and children. Catholic social teaching wisely advocates keeping families united, as it is the building block of society.

Immigration Remains a Priority Issue for Catholic Bishops. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) continues to focus on the well-being of migrants. Read a summary of their activity over the last eighteen months as well as some expectations for the next few months.

Can the U.S Government Take Away Naturalized Citizenship? Yes, in some instances the government can takes away naturalized citizenship. The administration is currently researching past applications for fraudulent statements. As always, if approached by government officials, it is important to get a qualified immigration attorney.

Why Would Parents Leave Their Children Behind in Another Country? Allegedly, parents seeking asylum in the United States, but nonetheless deported, have agreed to leave their children in the United States. However, a recent report shows that the government frequently does not ask questions, but just deports. The government’s lack of knowledge makes it even more difficult to reunite parents and children. Catholic social teaching wisely advocates keeping families united, as it is the building block of society.

In-Depth Analysis. Want to take a deep dive into immigration issues? Migration Policy Institute has done a detailed study of changes in immigration policy since the beginning of the Trump administration.

ICYMI — Learn More About “For Profit” Detention Centers. Many immigration detention centers are run by “for profit” companies under contract with the federal government. For more information about generated problems, sign up for a webinar from the Justice for Immigrants Campaign. There are alternatives and cost savings. For example, the detention facility in Lumpkin County, Georgia is a “for profit” facility that announced an expansion to accommodate more beds.