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“All Those Amendments”
Posted on 18. May, 2013 by admin.
Holy Names Province Immigration Reform Advocacy Place Article #3:
Working for the Best Immigration Bill Possible—the Amendment Process
Franciscans are seeking the passage of the best immigration reform bill possible. –We recognize that the bill that ultimately emerges will not be perfect, but it certainly will improve our broken immigration system.
At this stage of the process, the bill moves through the Senate Judiciary Committee. At this writing, this Committee is considering S.744, The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. We know that S.744 is a good start, but that it is in need of improvement – hence the need for an amendment process. Over the next few weeks, the Judiciary Committee will consider literally hundreds of amendments to the bill. Trying to follow this process can be dizzying, but ongoing advocacy—voicing our stance to our elected officials—is imperative.
Some of the proposed amendments, from our stance, would improve the bill — those that bring help to people and those that streamline the immigration process. Others, from our faith perspective, would make the bill worse. Still other suggested amendments, if added, will make the passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill nearly impossible (some of the amendments were submitted with that very intention.) So what is a faith advocate to do?
We are working closely with the U.S. Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign for guidance. Their staff will be diligently following the amendment process and then suggesting advocacy action to help make the Senate bill better able to serve the needs of our immigrant brothers and sisters, and the Common Good.
Please go to www.justiceforimmigrants.org to learn action you can take during this process in support of immigrants.
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Papua Peace Negotiator Team Condemns the Deadly Shootings of Papuans
Posted on 18. May, 2013 by admin.
At present there are 35 Franciscans Friars in Papua New Guinea. The following press release comes from one of those friars:
JURU RUNDING, statement of 1 may shooting_2013
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IIC Webinar Presentation
Posted on 13. May, 2013 by admin.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition’s monthly webinar took place on Monday, May 6th. It was about the amendment to the bi-partisan senate bill, S.744. This amendment is important in protecting and improving the immigration reform bill. If you were unable to attend the webinar, you can view the slides from the presentation by clicking on the link below:
Click here to view the slides
For more information about the webinar visit the Interfaith Immigration Website
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“Why don’t they come here legally?”
Posted on 11. May, 2013 by admin.
The following article about immigration reform is from the Franciscan Friar’s Holy Names Province and their Justice and Peace office:
A Response to “Why don’t they come here legally?”
As Franciscans, we are committed to the work of social justice. In this pursuit we have taken on comprehensive immigration reform, one of the significant areas of injustice in our times. In this work, the question, “Why don’t they come here legally?” invariably is raised. The answers to this question are at the heart of the comprehensive immigration reform effort.
When asked, this question presupposes the existence of a feasible and workable legal process for immigrants to enter the U.S. The premise often is born of a nostalgia that our forefathers and foremothers went through such a process. In both cases, the assumptions are not valid.
Most of the European immigrants who came to the U.S. did not go through stringent federal “legal” channels because they did not exist. For example, Ellis Island, a port of entry for many, was only a place to screen (ensure that new arrivals were not diseased and asked questions to make sure not a danger to society), register (simply record their name in the registry) and welcome the newcomer. There is no such process today. In fact, under the current laws, no “line” for lawful immigration to the United States exists for the majority of our immigrants. Today, the avenues of entry are very few and very narrow. These paths, taken as a whole, do not even allow entry to enough immigrants to cover the U.S.’s growing employment needs (even during a recession). In addition to the narrow nature of the system, the process is unrealistically lengthy and results in divided families.
When advocates for comprehensive immigration reform state that the “current system is broken,” they are referring, at least in part, to this narrow and unrealistic set of entry paths. The U.S. Catholic Bishops and the Franciscans have joined with many others to declare that our current immigration laws must be reformed to meet our country’s need for labor and to facilitate the reunification of families.
To get a more complete understanding of why immigrants find it nearly impossible to enter the U.S. through legal means, please read the full brief from the USCCB. http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/documents/issue-brief-why-dont-they-come-here-legally-final.pdf
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Why Do Franciscans Care About Immigration?
Posted on 04. May, 2013 by admin.
Franciscan Friars and Immigration:
“Franciscans have been journeying with migrants from their early years and continue to do so today. Franciscan ministries in the U.S. are ministries of welcome for all, but especially to our immigrant brothers and sisters. In our relationship with immigrants we have been both blessed as they join our communities, and heart-‐broken as we witness injustice and abuse visited upon them by the broken immigration system.”
To read the full document regarding Franciscans and Immigration reform, click the link below:
Why do Franciscans Care about Immigration
Fore more information about the Franciscans’ commitment to justice, visit the Province of Santa Barbara website or the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe website.
