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The Immigration Working Group works to provide opportunities for education, advocacy and action leading to humane and just immigration reform.
July 1, 2010
President Obama's speech calling for bipartisan effort leading to
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-comprehensive-immigration-reform
Justice for Immigrants - Minnesota (resources, join the JFI-MN Campaign, etc.)
~includes: Minnesota Conference of Catholic Bishops Statment on Immigration June 15, 2010
Answering Tough Questions about Immigration - Bishop John C. Wester
http://www.jfimn.org
United States Conferernce of Catholic Bishops (immigration resources, join Justice for Immigrants Campaign)
Justice for Immigrants - Washington DC
justiceforimmigrants.org
National Immigrant Law Center
NILC.org
The Advocates for Human Rights:
energyofanation.org
Joint Religious Legislative Coalition
jrlc.org
Jewish Community Action
jewishcommunityaction.org
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
immigrantlawcentermn.org
Recent Actions for Justice
Urgent Action Item: Advocate for Victor Guijarro
Minneapolis resident and leader of La Asamblea de Derechos Civiles was detained in Ohio last weekend during a routine traffic stop. He and his family who was with him in the car all face deportation. Learn more, and consider writing a letter, attending a meeting, and/or donating to help his cause. http:www.victorylibertad.blogspot.com.
For hope that an individual's situation can be changed, read a New York Times article from 3/11/010: For a Pardoned detainee, Released but Not Told Why, a Lonely, Happy Trip Home by Nina Bernstein "Qing Hong Wu didn't know he was being freed until days after the pardon from Governor David A. Paterson that led to his release."
Thank you for taking action!
March 18, President Obama extended Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians 18 months to September 30, 2011 including the extension of work permits.
Urgent Action Item: Advocate for Liberians in the US
seeking anotherDeferred Enforcement Departure (DED) ruling. Their current status expires 3/31/10. Write a letter/email or call President Obama requesting him to extend their Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status. This affects 3,600 Liberians (most in Minnesota), and their families, who have been here for 20 years. White House Comment Line: 1- 202-456-1111.
For more information on Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) visit:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=98303e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=98303e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD
2010 Events
1st Sunday of each month: 2:30 p.m.
Faith in Action Vigil: Ramsey County Adult Detention Center
425 Grove Street, St. Paul.
Sponsored by the Interfaith Coalition on Immigration
March 3, 2010 7-9 p.m.
Breaking the Impasse: Immigration Beyond the Sound Byte
Featuring: Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director, NETWORK Catholic Social Justice Lobby and Kathleen Tomlin, Director, Catholic Charities' Office for Social Justice.
11th Day Prayer for Peace: January 11, 2010
There are No Illegal People
Reflection by Rev. Loren McGrail
Justice No Illegal People
Recommended video (2.09 minutes)
"What Immigration Reform Could Do for America" www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT7gOkZqMng
Recommended DVD
One Border One Body: Immigration & the Eucharist
One Border, One Body tells the story of a ritual that unites people beyond political constructions which divide them. Amidst a desert of death and a culture of fear, it testifies to God's universal, undivided, and unrestricted love for all people. More than just another documentary on immigration, this film is a meditation of the Kingdom of God, a globalization of solidarity, and a journey of hope.
The documentary is produced by award winning filmmaker John Carlos Frey and Fr. Daniel Groody, csc of the University of Notre Dame.
Recommended Reading
Summary of bipartisan immigration reform bill likely to be proposed. Washington Post article, "The Right Way to Mend Immigration" by Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/17/AR2010031703115.html
Al Franken on immigration: http://www.alfranken.com/pages/immigration/
November 2009
The Faith In Action Vigils at the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center (RCADC)
The November Vigil focused on the Day of the Dead, US/Mexico border crossings and the deaths of immigrants in detention. Pat Owen, Consociate and chair of the Immigration Working Group spoke at the vigil saying,
The mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates is to love
God and neighbor without distinction. Surely, the immigrant among us is
our neighbor.
How can we treat our neighbor with the love their and we deserve?
~ by creating a realistic path to citizenship,
~ by addressing the backlog of applications for permaent residents,
~ by having an effective worker program,
~ and by supporting the Dream Act so children of undocumented families
can go to college.
Women and children - over one half of the undocumented people in the United States - endure particular hardships.
We support a strong family reunification component so children and their mothers are not separated.
We need to put aside the languiage of "alien" and of "other" and remember that these are our brothers, these are
our sisters, thesee are our mothers and fathers, and our children. These are the neighbors we are called to love.
We are called here in prayer for the people in detention and their families.
Faith In Action Prayer Vigils at the RCADC are planned for the first Sunday of every month. Sponsored by: Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, co-sponsored by the Immigration Working Group of the Justice Commission of the Sisters of St. Joseph and Consociates.
"Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind." Henri-Frederic Amiel (1821-81), Swiss philosopher, poet
Contact Congress
Congressional Aides - Immigration Policy
Congresswoman Betty McCollum: Chao Lee, 651.224.9191
Senator Amy Klobuchar: Clara Haycraft, 612-727-5220
Senator Al Franken: Amy Hang, 651.221.1016
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