WISCONSIN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
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August 24, 2021

USCCB and JFI Urge Support for Immigration Reform in Budget Reconciliation Bill
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Justice for Immigrants Campaign (JFI) have issued two action alerts (Senate and House) calling for immigration reform to be included in the budget reconciliation bill.
 
It's been almost five months since a bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives passed the:
  • American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), which would provide legal status with a path to citizenship for millions of Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients; and the
  • Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 1603), which would create an earned legal status program for undocumented agricultural workers and improve the existing H-2A temporary agricultural program.
 
Both bills were supported by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Unfortunately, neither has moved forward in the Senate. In the meantime, a July 16 ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas has blocked new DACA applicants from receiving relief and seriously threatens future protection for current DACA recipients.
 
However, the 117th Congress now has an opportunity to address immigration in a positive, productive, and forward-looking way. Last week, the Senate adopted a budget resolution that paves the way for a reconciliation bill. The resolution includes instructions for the Committee on the Judiciary to draft language providing "lawful permanent status for qualified immigrants." Reconciliation only requires a simple majority of 51 votes in the Senate, assuming certain other conditions are met. While the House will also have to adopt the budget resolution in the coming weeks, Senate committees can now begin drafting the text of the budget reconciliation bill itself.
 
We need your help to tell Congress NO MORE DELAY! Urge your senators and representative to support the enactment of immigration reform this year by clicking below: 
 
 
Other Actions
 
1.  During this August recess, please also consider meeting with congressional lawmakers and their staff to voice your support for positive immigration reform. Below are resources to assist with this:
 
2.   Write a letter to the editor. You can use this sample letter to get started.
 
3.   Pray:

4.  Share these resources with others and encourage them to advocate on behalf of our migrant brothers and sisters!
 
For more migration-related resources, please visit www justiceforimmigrants.org.

Thank you for helping those most in need!