News Archives » immigration reform
Illinois Bishops call for Immigration Reform and Support of Immigrant Families January 10th, 2012
The Bishops of Illinois opened National Migration Week, which started January 8, with a statement calling on Catholics to provide support to immigrant families and advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.
During the next six months, each diocese in Illinois will share the stories and realities of immigrant families in their parishes and communities. These stories will be published in diocesan newspapers, bulletin inserts and on our website.
If you have actions, news and reflections about the National Immigration Week from your community, parish or diocese, please share these with the JPIC office.
Lenten Activities on Immigration Reform March 8th, 2011
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops invites you to pray, fast, learn, and advocate for just and humane immigration reform by committing to one or more of their suggested activities as part of your Lenten journey. Act in solidarity with immigrants and refugees by taking action with the Bishops’ 2011 Lenten Commitment for Reform.
Discouraged about the lack of progress towards immigration reform? Looking for suggestions for meaningful action? Please read the Bishops’ Lenten Commitment for Reform, and share this document widely.
Immigration Rally in Oblate Parishes in Los Angeles February 15th, 2011
On January 29th, at least 2000 people took to the streets of Pacoima, CA, in an organized, peaceful march for the rights of the undocumented and all immigrants. They carried American flags and signs, such as “Stop Ripping Families Apart” and “No to Deportation, Yes to Legalization” and “Dreams not Nightmares”.
The March was led by young Hispanic US military veterans, and then by children waving small flags from many other nations, representing the contributions of immigrants to our nation. These were followed by Aztec dancers and drumming, representing the indigenous roots of many. Many marchers were high school and college-age students who came here as children and who dream of a future as citizens.
The participants were from Mary Immaculate and Santa Rosa parishes, as well as from other parishes and civic organizations. The two-mile long march ended at Mary Immaculate where there was a rally and messages of encouragement given by the organizers and some local politicians to all those who are advocating a sensible reform of the current immigration laws and system.
The Oblates who participated in the March and in the prior organization of the March were John Curran, Porfirio Garcia, Antonio Ponce, Stan Zowada and Bill Antone.
Oblates Support Need for Immigration Reform January 16th, 2011
On 29 January, a March and Rally for Immigration Reform will be held in Pacoima, California, a city in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles. The event, organized by the Justice for Immigrants coalition in San Fernando Valley, will consist of a march which will proceed to the Oblate parish of Mary Immaculate. There, a rally will be held featuring speeches by community leaders encouraging elected officials in Congress to fix the broken immigration system and remind them of its impact on families.
Read the Press Release by Justice for Immigrants Coalition /San Fernando Valley.
In a separate but related action, the Oblate JPIC Office has joined 45 other faith-based organizations in issuing a declaration in support of Migrants. The Resolution on Migrants was developed in observance of National Migration Week, declared by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’, and recognizes the difficulties facing immigrants in the United States today. The diverse array of faith groups signing onto the statement are united in their concern for the plight of immigrants and the current negative political atmosphere in many communities. Most of the faith-based organizations endorsing the Resolution represent individuals and communities who live among and serve the immigrant population and are witnesses to the daily struggles of immigrants.
The U.S Migrant Resolution shows that a diverse faith community remains committed to immigration reform despite the current lack of political leadership. We hope that Congressional leaders can reach across the divide on this issue in the same way that the faith community has come together.
Read the U.S. Migrant Resolution 2011 (Download PDF)
Dream Act Fails to Pass December 18th, 2010
The Dream Act – a measure which would have granted legal recognition to hundreds of thousands of young people who have grown up in the U.S., but who lack citizenship – died in the Senate in a procedural vote on Saturday. The immigration bill, backed by broad interfaith support, obtained 55 votes in favor with 41 against, a tally nevertheless short of the 60 votes needed to bring it to the floor for debate. Five Democrats broke ranks to vote against the bill, while only three Republicans voted for it. The defeat in the Senate came after the House of Representatives passed the bill last week.
The defeat was a bitter pill for immigration advocates as well as for the Obama Administration which had pressed for the bill’s passage. Adherents of the measure vowed to continue working for its passage. The DREAM Act would allow young people to become legal U.S. residents after spending two years in college or the military.
