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October 2022 Newsletter
Issue #68
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In the ongoing debate about U.S. immigration policy, one of the most extreme responses is deportation. Here are a few facts & figures about this process.
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Between 2003 and 2020, the U.S. deported 5,010,787 people.
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Of the people who were deported, over 2,000,000 did not have any criminal convictions. The single largest group of convictions was illegal entry, with 401,023. The next highest number of convictions was driving under the influence with 219,256.
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From 2003-2016, the U.S. deported 1,048,730 people ages 18 to 24. In addition, the U.S. deported 40,720 people ages 0 - 17 and 1,024 people ages 75 and older.
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39% of Latinos and 51% of immigrant Latinos say they worry that they, or a family member or someone close to them could be deported.
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54% of Hispanics say they are confident about their place in America while 41% say they have serious concerns.
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20% of Latinos report being told “go back to your home country.”
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Deportees who grew up in the United States experience their arrival to Mexico as such a profound loss that they often compare it to death. Thoughts of suicide are markedly higher among deportees with strong ties to the U.S. than among the rest of the deported population. Deported "Dreamers" -- participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program -- also face social stigma in Mexico. They are perceived as different — as foreigners — due to their American upbringing.
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The largest mass deportation in American history was “Operation Wetback” in 1954 when 1.1 million Mexicans were deported back to Mexico. The short-lived operation used military-style tactics to remove Mexican immigrants—some of them American citizens— even though many them had entered the country legally through joint immigration programs in the first half of the 20th century.
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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) operates ICE Air Operations and flies more than 100,000 people back to their home countries every year. The agency’s 5 charter contracts provide up to 10 aircraft for routine flights, each capable of carrying a maximum of 135 detainees. Transporting deportees to their home countries via ICE Air costs an average of $1,978 per person. A chartered flight costs about $7,785 per flight hour, which covers the cost of not only the aircraft and fuel, but also a pilot, flight crew, security personnel and a nurse onboard.
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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the only U.S. agency for which an almost equal share of Americans view unfavorably -- 45%, as favorably-- 46%.
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57% of Americans think increasing deportations is very or somewhat important.
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The Bible mentions welcoming the stranger more than 100 times.
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Jesus Takes a Side: Embracing the Political Demands of the Gospel
By Jonny Rashid. Lays out the political demands of following Jesus and offers strategies for how to engage politics practically and prophetically—even if it means taking a side. Rejects the “third way” approach that many Christians have proposed in pursuit of moderation, harmony, and unity to address the divisions in the world. Argues that if Christians are more concerned with divisiveness than with faithfulness, they have failed to grasp the gospel’s political demands and that they need to stand firmly for truth, peace, and justice. Read more.
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WOLA
A leading research and advocacy organization advancing human rights in the Americas. Envisions a future where public policies protect human rights and recognize human dignity, and where justice overcomes violence. WOLA tackles problems that transcend borders and demand cross-border solutions. Creates strategic partnerships with courageous people making social change—advocacy organizations, academics, religious and business leaders, artists, and government officials.
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Borderless Magazine
A nonprofit and multilingual news outlet based in Chicago that believes in the power of
immigration voices.
- Reports and publishes stories in their online magazine
- Mentors emerging immigrant journalists their Pathways program
- Gives journalists from other news outlets the tools they need to report on immigration issues fairly and accurately through their Immigration Reporting Lab
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Instituto Nacional Pastoral Migratoria
A ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Institute provides a space for training, reflection, sharing and building community for the development and implementation of an Immigrant-Led Ministry of service, justice and accompaniment in parish communities. Learn more.
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11 Minutes
A docuseries from Paramount+ Original that immerses viewers inside the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting -- the largest in U.S. history. Through emotional firsthand accounts and never-before-seen archival footage, it is a story of humanity and survival at what was supposed to be a festival celebrating country music. (Contains strong language and violent content). Watch the trailer.
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World Beyond War
A global nonviolent movement to end war and establish a just and sustainable peace. Seeks to transition to a global security system that is supported by international law, diplomacy, collaboration, and human rights. Works to dispels myths, like war is justified, inevitable, natural or even beneficial, and shows how war erodes liberties, promotes bigotry, wastes resources, threatens the environment and endangers everyone. Argues that not only that war should be abolished, but that it actually can be. Learn more.
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Berghof Foundation
Works around the world to create space for conflict transformation, bringing people together and enabling them to find ways to live peacefully. Works on numerous interconnected themes such as: climate change, peacebuilding, nonviolence, reconciliation, mediation & negotiation. Learn more.
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The Neutral Ground
A documentary about memory, monuments, and America's troubled romance with the "Lost Cause." Focuses on the City of New Orleans' Council vote in 2015 to remove four confederate monuments but the process is halted by death threats. Sets out to understand why a losing army from 1865 still holds so much power in America. Watch the trailer.
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Faithful Antiracism: Moving Past Talk to Systemic Change
By Christina Edmondson. Takes confidence from the truth that Christ has overcome the world, including racism, and offers a clear analysis and intervention to challenge and resist its pernicious power. Drawing on new research from the landmark Race, Religion, and Justice Project led by Michael Emerson and others, this book represents the most comprehensive study on Christians and race since Emerson's book Divided by Faith (2001). It invites readers to put this data to immediate practical use, applying it to their own specific context. Compelled by the grievous social moment and by the timeless truth of Scripture, this book will equip readers to move past talk and enter the fight against racism in both practical and hopeful ways. Read more.
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3 Reasons Why We Can Win
the Fight Against Poverty
A TED Talk, featuring Andrew Youn who shows how his group, One Acre Fund, is helping small farmers lift themselves out of poverty by delivering to them life-sustaining farm services that are already in use all over the world. He holds that:
- Most of the world's poor are farmers.
- Humanity already knows the tools to end poverty.
- Delivery of these tools eradicates poverty
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The Link Between Climate Change,
Health and Poverty
A TED Talk, featuring physician Cheryl Holder, who says the health impacts of climate change are already here for the poor and vulnerable. Unseasonably hot temperatures, disease-carrying mosquitoes and climate gentrification are threatening those with existing health conditions, while wealthier people move to higher ground. She proposes impactful ways clinicians can protect their patients from climate-related health challenges -- and calls on doctors, politicians and others to build a care system that incorporates economic and social justice.
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To Which We Belong
A documentary that highlights farmers and ranchers leaving behind conventional practices that are no longer profitable or sustainable. With quiet courage they are improving the health of our soil and sea to save their livelihoods - and our planet.
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American Clean Power
A leading federation of renewable energy companies expediting the advancement of clean energy as the dominant power source in America. Works to enable the transformation of the U.S. power grid to a low-cost, reliable and renewable power system. By uniting the power of wind, solar, transmission and storage companies and their allied industries, both public and private, they champion policies that enable the continued and aggressive growth in renewable energy in the United States. Learn more.
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Rehumanize International
A nonprofit human rights organization dedicated to creating a culture of peace and life. Seeks to bring an end to all aggressive violence against humans through education, discourse, and action. Adheres to the Consistent Life Ethic to ensure that every human being's life is respected, valued, and protected.
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Celebrant's Flame: Daniel Berrigan in Memory and Reflection
By Bill Wylie-Kellermann. This well-researched but personal book, reflects on many aspects of Berrigan’s work—as a poet, prophet, prisoner and priest. Includes considerable material by Berrigan himself, some previously unpublished—plus much in the way of personal letters, poetry, and memoirs. Read more.
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Prayer for Deportees
Loving God,
We don’t know where they are or if they’re alive…
Please keep them safe…
Please provide whatever they need…
Just don’t let them be alone….
May they know that they are loved...
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Important Dates This Month
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Individuals Honored This Month |
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October 2nd
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
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October 4th
While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.
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October 5th
One is called to live nonviolently,
even if the change one works for seems impossible.
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October 7th
If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends, you talk to your enemies.
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October 11th
The solidarity which binds all people together as members of a common family makes it impossible for wealthy nations to look with indifference upon the hunger, misery and poverty of other nations whose citizens are unable to enjoy even elementary human rights. The nations of the world are becoming more and more dependent on one another and it will not be possible to preserve a lasting peace so long as glaring economic and social imbalances persist.
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October 11th
Looking deeply requires courage.
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Since 2017, more than 300,000 people have visited the Social Justice Resource Center website. We provide a wide variety of facts and figures on specific social issues as well as thousands of free resources including films, publications, links to other organizations, prayers, quotes, principles of social justice, key dates throughout the year, action ideas, Diocesan office contact information and biographies of famous people who have worked for social justice.
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