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Visions Spring 2009
Visions Winter 2008-09
Visions Fall 2008

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Social Justice

Our commitment to immigration reform calls us to raise our voices in defense of the voiceless and vulnerable immigrants in our midst. Ever since the downturn in the U.S. economy there has been an increase in backlash against immigrants. We have heard of workplace raids, detentions and deportations, as well as anti-immigrant legislation proposed and passed by local and state governments. The crackdown on immigrants has not only created a climate of fear and intimidation, but also prevents the immigrants from exercising their economic and political power.

President Obama’s Position on Immigration Reform

When President Obama met with congressional leaders in June 2009, he raised hopes that immigration reform would move forward later this year. However, because of the current debate on health care legislation, immigration reform has been sidetracked on the administration’s agenda. Besides health care, other legislation on energy and education will take precedence.
Actually President Obama’s immigration policies do not depart too far from those of his predecessor. An article in The New York Times reports that the Obama administration is pursuing an aggressive strategy for an illegal-immigration crackdown that relies significantly on programs started by the Bush administration.
As stated in this article, the Obama administration recently began “audits of employee paperwork at hundreds of businesses, expanded a program to verify worker immigration status that has been widely criticized as flawed, bolstered a program of cooperation between federal and local enforcement agencies, and rejected proposals for legally binding rules governing conditions in immigration detention centers.”
(Source: Firm Stance on Illegal Immigrants Remains Firm,
by Julia Preston, August 3, 2009)

Border Control

The major difference in the Obama administration’s plan is to limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on workplaces. However, the president supports a “virtual fence” of sensor towers along the Mexican border and the “zero tolerance” jailing and deportation of apprehended undocumented immigrants.
During the week of July 6-10, the U.S. Senate considered amendments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill. During the debate the Senate considered and adopted several immigration enforcement amendments which continue the enforcement-only approach to immigration reform. One amendment offered by Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) requires the completion of at least 700 miles of double fencing along the Southwest border by December 31, 2010, as well as requiring double barriers along portions of the fence.
The United States Catholic Bishops have opposed the construction of a border fence, arguing that it will not stem illegal immigration overall, and it could lead migrants to undertake more dangerous journeys into the United States. It would also force them to rely on expensive and dangerous human smuggling operations.
(Source: Justice for Immigrants,
Action Alert www.justiceforimmigrants.org)

Detention Centers

In early August, John Morton, Assistant Secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), announced planned reforms in the immigration detention system. ICE is creating an Office of Detention Policy and Planning (ODPP) to design a more centralized civil immigration detention system. Assistant Secretary Morton also announced that ICE would no longer employ arrest quotas in the implementation of its fugitive operations teams (FOT).
ICE will also establish an Office of Detention Oversight to inspect detention facilities, appoint detention managers who will monitor facilities, and form detention advisory groups of interested organizations to provide feedback to ICE.
(Source: ICE press release at www.ice.gov.)

On August 6, Senators Joe Lieberman, Edward Kennedy, and Daniel Akaka re-introduced the Secure and Safe Detention and Asylum Act of 2009 (S.1594) calling for:
Improved detention conditions, including prompt accredited medical care, unobstructed access to legal counsel, limits on the use of solitary confinement and other punitive treatment, and special standards for families and for victims of persecution and torture;
Review by an immigration judge within two weeks of a detention decisions with consideration for release if the detainee poses no flight risk, no threat to public safety of national security, and for humanitarian reasons,
Expanded alternatives to detention such as supervised release programs,
Quality assurance measures to ensure that asylum seekers with a credible fear of persecution will not be returned to their countries without a review of their cases,
The reporting and investigation of all deaths that occur in detention facilities, and more vigorous scrutiny of these facilities by the newly-established Office of Detention Oversight.

This Act is supported by a broad coalition of faith-based and asylum, immigration and advocacy groups.
(Source: Rights Working Group, Monthly E-News,
August 2009, www.rightsworkinggroup)

Meeting with Secretary Janet Napolitano

On August 20, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and administration officials met with a group representing labor, faith, immigrant, business and law enforcement leaders to discuss immigration reform. Secretary Napolitano addressed the gathering, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to comprehensive immigration reform. She also pointed to planned reforms in the immigration detention system and the repeal of the social security no-match rule as two examples of how immigration enforcement under the Obama administration differs from the Bush-era practices. Many questions were asked about the timing of immigration reform and the desire to get legislation in 2009 rather than 2010. Other questions concerned problems with the implementation of Secure Communities and 287(g) programs, family reunification, procedures for a legalization program and necessary due process protection.
At the end of the meeting, President Obama entered the room and reaffirmed his commitment to passing immigration reform, but hinted at the demagoguery that was sure to enter the debate as it has in the health care context. He also indicated, to the disappointment of advocates, that the administration would not abandon the 287(g) program but would focus its energy on proper implementation.

287(g) Programs

The 287(g) program is an initiative of the Department of Homeland Security that deputizes local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws. The program has led to racial profiling, damaged community policing practices and community security, and left crime victims afraid to ask for police protection.

Pope Speaks on Migration in New Encyclical

In his new encyclical, Caritate in Veritate (Charity in Truth), Pope Benedict XVI touches on migration at several points. He writes that as a result of mass migration, “we are facing a social phenomenon of epoch-making proportions that requires bold forward-looking policies of international cooperation if it is to be handled effectively.” Furthermore, he highlights the “significant contribution” that migrants give to their host countries through their labor and warns against treating migrants as a commodity.
For a more-detailed analysis of the new encyclical, go to www.justiceforimmigration.org or www.usccb.org and click on the Migration and Refugee services web page.

Resources on Immigration

There are many religious and secular organizations that are working for immigration reform. For more information, check the following websites on the Internet:

• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Justice for Immigrants: www.justiceforimmigrants.org
  
• The Interfaith Immigration Coalition: www.interfaithimmigration.org
  Send an email to bmefford@umc-gbcs.org for information on how to participate in a conference call on the first Monday of each month.
  
• Pew Hispanic Research Center: http://pewhispanic.org
  
• Friends Committee on National Legislation: www.fcnl.org
  
• NETWORK: www.networklobby.org
  
• Pax Christi USA: www.paxchristiusa.org

Another source of comprehensive information is “A Pastoral Letter on the Human Rights of Immigrants” by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, Diocese of Little Rock, entitled “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me…,” published in 2008. It may be downloaded from www.dolr.org for distribution, with acknowledgments. No further permission is required, but samples are appreciated.

Our Lady of Victory Missonary Sisters is an American Missionary Congregation founded in 1922 — serving the poor and oppressed in a personal, non-institutional way

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