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Justice for Immigrants

Justice for Immigrants. “Our common dignity as human beings calls us to respect the alien among us, regardless of their status or social position. A preferential love for the poor and disenfranchised is a sure sign of one’s Christian identity.” -Most Rev. Robert N. Lynch.

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Justice for Immigrants

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  1. Justice for Immigrants “Our common dignity as human beings calls us to respect the alien among us, regardless of their status or social position. A preferential love for the poor and disenfranchised is a sure sign of one’s Christian identity.” -Most Rev. Robert N. Lynch

  2. “IN THE CHURCH, NO ONE IS A STRANGER, AND THE CHURCH IS NOT FOREIGN TO ANYONE, ANYWHERE” -Pope John Paul IIWorld Migration Day 1995

  3. This is the first (commandment) ... you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. (Mk 12:30-31)

  4. A quick history of migration…

  5. Why? People migrate for many reasons: Persecution Basic Human Needs Natural Disasters Political Unrest Economic Improvement

  6. Immigration in the Bible… Abraham and Sarah Joseph, son of Jacob Moses The Holy Family Source: 29

  7. American Immigration Source: 25

  8. Source: 25

  9. Dispelling some myths…

  10. Myth: Immigrants take American Jobs Picture Source: 7, 4

  11. Facts The U.S. Camber of Commerce said, “our economy would collapse,” without migrant workers20 17% of undocumented workers in leisure/ hospitality- 8% native-born 20% of undocumented in construction- 7% native-born 31% of undocumented in service industry- 16% native-born 39 13 % of Americans are without a high school diploma.38 Source: 16, 20, 38, 39

  12. Reality Immigrants are creating jobs In 2005, the level of entrepreneurial activity – defined as the establishment of a business – was 25 percent higher among immigrants than native-born Americans. Señor Guillermo Gamma Source: 21

  13. Myth: Immigrants don’t pay taxes Picture Source: 7

  14. Fact Immigrants pay sales, real estate, gasoline, etc. taxes Unauthorized immigrants provide a net gain of $7 billion to the Social Security system each year. 18 >$90 billion in taxes paid by immigrants. 20 “the average immigrant pays nearly $1,800 more in taxes than he or she costs in benefits.” 33 Source: 18, 20, 33

  15. Reality The Social Security Administration concluded that undocumented immigrants “account for a major portion” of the billions of dollars paid into the Social Security system under names or social security numbers that don’t match SSA records; payments from which immigrants cannot benefit while undocumented. Source: 2

  16. Myth: Immigrants are overrunning our population. Picture Source: 7

  17. Facts In 2008, estimated US population= 304,000,000 In 2008, estimated foreign-born population = 38 million (12.5%)19 Foreign-born population in 1910 = 15% 20 Undocumented population= 12 million10 Undocumented workers = 5% of U.S. workforce. 20 There are less US border apprehensions today than in 1973. 36 Source: 20, 19, 10, 27, 36

  18. "The so-called “illegals” are not so because they wish to defy the law; but, because the law does not provide them with any channels to regularize their status in our country – which needs their labor: they are not breaking the law, the law is breaking them.” -Most Reverend Thomas Wenski, Bishop of Orlando

  19. Reality Annual Family visas 226,000 Annual Employment visas= 140,000 Waiting list could be 5, 10, 15+ years Federico Source: 29

  20. Myth: The legalization of undocumented immigrants will deteriorate work conditions for all Americans. Picture Source: 7

  21. Facts Wages suffer when part of the workforce has no legal status. 6 Workers experience more violations to their rights. 6 Communities can flourish. 31 “…people who have been here for a long time and put down roots here have to have some mechanism over time to get out of the shadows, because if they stay in the shadows, in the underground economy, then they are oftentimes pitted against American workers. Since they can’t join a union, they can’t complain about minimum wages, etc., they end up being abused, and that depresses the wages of everybody, all Americans.” Source: 31, 6

  22. Reality Collier County 2007 Locked in U-Haul Charged for water Threatened physical harm Kept papers locked up Modern-day slavery In 2009, labor trafficking busted in 14 states Source: 11

  23. What does the Church teach? We don’t welcome people because they’re Catholic. We should welcome people because we’re Catholic.

  24. According to Catholic Teachings… It is an intrinsic, God-given right to migrate. Protect family Provide for family Escape Persecution Right to basic necessities 29 Comes with accountability for all. Pope John XXIII, in Pacem in Terris, stressed the obligation of nations to accommodate migration flows. For more powerful nations, a stronger obligation exists. 31 Source: 31, 29

  25. What do faith leaders think? In 2003, the Catholic Bishops of Mexico and the US published Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope A Pastoral Letter Concerning Migration For World Migration Day 2009, Pope Benedict XVI urged us “to live brotherly love to the full without making any kind of distinction and without discrimination, in the conviction that any one who needs us and whom we can help is our neighbor” 1 Source: 31, 1

  26. Strangers No Longer From the Bishops’ conference, Scripture, and Catholic Social Teachings, 5 principles emerged: Persons have the right to find opportunities in their homeland. Persons have the right to migrate to support themselves and their families. Sovereign nations have the right to control their borders. Refugees and asylum seekers should be afforded protection. The human dignity and human rights of undocumented migrants should be respected. Source: 31

  27. Advocacy The US and Mexican Bishops recommend: Address the root causes of immigration Create legal avenues for migration Family-based immigration Legalization for undocumented Employment-based immigration Humane enforcement policies in Mexico and the US Source:31

  28. So what now?

  29. Immigration Reform DREAM Act Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act (AgJOBS) Reuniting American Families Act (S. 1085) Source: 30

  30. Suggestions for Action Challenge legislators to advance Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Recognize and respect cultural differences. Donate to or volunteer with a Farmworker ministry in your area . Plan multicultural liturgies and services. Insert quotes on migration in your parish bulletin. Establish a parish “Twinning” relationship Support local family businesses and markets. Ensure that sacramental preparation is available to migrants. Source: 28

  31. Is present-day America becoming less sensitive, less caring toward the poor, the weak, the stranger, the needy? It must not! Today, as before, the United States is called to be a hospitable society, a welcoming culture. If America were to turn in on itself, would this not be the beginning of the end of what constitutes the very essence of the “American experience”? -Pope John Paul II

  32. Resources www.justiceforimmigrants.org www.justiciaparalosinmigrantes.org www.usccb.org/sdwp/globalpoverty www.immigrationforum.org www.cirnow.org

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