Immigration/Migration/Refugees

Economic injustice plagues most of the world, providing a strong impetus for immigration. Given this situation, any true solution to illegal immigration to the U.S. must take into account the root causes of the poverty from which many immigrants are trying to escape.
--Education for Justice

Most asylum seekers come from countries affected by conflict or widespread human rights abuses or both, such as Afghanistan, China, Colombia, the DRC, Georgia, Haiti, Iraq, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Somalia and Turkey, among other countries.
--The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR

As Pope John Paul II has noted, "In many regions of the world today people live in tragic situations of instability and uncertainty. It does not come as a surprise that in such contexts the poor and the destitute make plans to escape, to seek a new land that can offer them bread, dignity and peace. This is the migration of the desperate. . ."
--U.S. Catholic Bishops, Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity, Nov. 15, 2000.

Watch
“Darfur Destroyed” http://www.hrw.org/video/2004/sudan/index2.html
“The Invisible Mexicans of Deer Canyon” http://www.invisiblemexicans.com/
“Endless Exodus” http://www.sandamianofoundation.org/

Websites to visit

• California Immigrant Policy Center http://www.caimmigrant.org/
• CLINIC http://www.cliniclegal.org/
• Refugees and International Displaced Women http://hrw.org/doc/?t=women_refugees
• Refugees International http://www.refugeesinternational.org/?PHPSESSID=44310053ca991db799cdd76a6a38f0e7
• Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope http://www.usccb.org/mrs/pcmr/snloverview.shtml
• The State of the World’s Refugees http://www.unhcr.org/cgiin/texis/vtx/template?page=publ&src=static/sowr2006/toceng.htm

Prayer

God, we are a nation of immigrants.
We pray that you would make us more compassionate toward our sisters and brothers who come to the U.S. looking for a decent job and to be reunited with family members. As people of faith, help us to call for immigration policies that better reflect the dignity of every person who crosses our borders.
Amen.

--Education for Justice

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Other Issues

Women > read more

Water > read more

Immigration/Migration/Refugees > read more

Migrant Deaths on US/Mexico Border > read more

Mountain Top Removal/Mining > read more

Common Good > read more

Peace > read more

Ecological Justice > read more

Death Penalty > read more

Human Rights > read more

Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery > read more

Health Care > read more

Fair Trade > read more

Unity/Reconciliation > read more

Responsible Investing > read more

Eradicate Poverty and Hunger > read more