On Tuesday, June 23, members of the Immigration Subcommittee from the St. Ignatius Justice & Peace Committee, joined with the Ignatian Solidarity Network in the first ever Jesuit Parish Advocacy Day on Migration.
Members advocated for just and humane immigration policies, including considering asylum-seeking essential travel, including mixed-status families in economic stimulus packages, automatic DACA and TPS extensions and renewals, protection for migrant agricultural farmworkers. They met with representatives from both Senator Van Hollen and Senator Cardin’s offices. Members were met with support from their representatives and were further reminded that it is crucial for citizens to be involved with their local governments. Representatives from Senator Cardin’s office left members with an ask: to keep broadening and building the coalition of justice and faith.
On behalf of the St. Ignatius Catholic Community, members also asked the Senators for advocacy and support on police reform and just policing policies. In early June, Senator Cardin, an original cosponsor of the Justice in Policing Act and lead sponsor of the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act (S. 2355) and Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act (S. 3063), called on Republicans to join Democrats in finally passing comprehensive criminal justice reform legislation.
To get involved with the Ignatian Solidarity Network, you can register for the annual Ignatian Teach-In for Justice– held virtually this year. Contact Candra Healy at candrahealy@st-ignatius.net for more registration details.
The global pandemic calls us to both welcome and protect one another. As the virus has traveled across borders, it has shown us how interdependent we are, and that we cannot live as nations, races, or people independent of one another – we are in this together. But new and existing policies in the United States deny asylum seekers both welcome and protection, putting those who have been forcibly displaced in danger.
Ahead of World Refugee Day join us on Thursday, June 18 at 2PM ET, as experts discuss the current situation on the US-Mexico Border, the impact of these policies on asylum seekers in Mexico, and what we can do to ensure our system of asylum stays intact even during a global pandemic.
We will stream the event live on our Facebook Page and Youtube.
Learn more about US asylum policy and how it impacts on the lives of those seeking refuge in our new report, Stranded: the Impact of US Policy on Asylum Seekers.
RSVP here.
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