The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ migration committee told a House subcommittee Sept. 23 that any stimulus bill Congress is considering must include assistance for immigrant and refugee families and also make them eligible for past stimulus relief.
immigration
Harris Seen as Progressive Partisan Who Can Pivot
Kamala Harris’s campaign positions on immigration reform, aid to refugees, and poverty, align with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But some Catholics won’t approve of her stance on abortion. Some advocates of religious freedom claim Harris has been openly hostile to their beliefs.
Don’t Turn Away From Suffering on Border, Urges Sister Norma Pimentel
In an opinion piece in The Washington Post daily newspaper, Sister Norma Pimentel, known for her work with migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border near Brownsville, Texas, made a public plea July 6 to keep an eye on the plight of asylum-seekers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Catholics Urged to Pray, Reflect, Act to Safeguard Religious Freedom
The U.S. bishops are urging Catholics to “pray, reflect and take action” on religious liberty in the United States and abroad during Religious Freedom Week June 22-29.
Portraits of Immigrants
Betsy Ashton’s “Portraits of Immigrants” series is a visual way to tell the stories of the extraordinary lives of ordinary immigrants she encounters in daily life. She says the point is to remind Americans about “who today’s immigrants really are.”
Catholic Agencies Disappointed by Court’s Order Limiting Immigrant Aid
Catholic Charities USA and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, known as CLINIC, expressed disappointment with the Supreme Court’s Jan. 27 order allowing the Trump administration to go forward with a new rule meant to limit immigrants’ use of government benefit programs.
Texas Catholics Decry Governor’s Decision to Spurn Refugees
Catholic bishops across Texas have said Jan.10’s decision by Governor Greg Abbott not to allow new refugees to settle in the state is “deeply discouraging and disheartening” and are calling on the Catholic governor to reverse his stance.
Catholics Mark Anniversary of Child’s Death at Border
Catholics joined faith groups observing the first anniversary of the death of a 7-year-old girl who died under immigration detention in late 2018 and called attention to other children in similar circumstances. Jakelin Caal Maquin died in December 2018 at the El Paso Children’s Hospital in Texas of a bacterial infection and, at the time, she and her father were under detention by border agents.
Immigrant Mom With Breast Cancer Dies
Maria Barragan, a mother from Guatemala who was battling stage 4 cancer and who was reunited with her undocumented husband in Brooklyn this past summer, passed away on Oct. 3.
Trump Cuts Back on Number of Refugees to Be Allowed in U.S.
On September 26, the Trump administration announced that it would be cutting back on the number of refugees the nation will be accepting, limiting victims of war and persecution from seeking protection in the U.S..