IAUSA Irish Apostolate

Update on the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform  

Issue: # 111

 December 2014
In This Issue
More on Executive Action
Fact Check: No Back Taxes in Immigration Action
Administrative Relief
How You Can Prepare
Urge Congress to Support E.A.
ARTICLE HEADLINE
Quick Links 

 

Current Articles 

 

Webinar: Understanding the President's Executive Actions on Immigration

 

CLINIC, Inc. 

 

 

 

End Game: No Immigration Deal, Just Divisions

 

ABC News 

 


 

No Way Home:  Illegal Immigrants Probably Unable to Travel Under Obama's Plan

 

Washington Post

 

 

 

GOP Chairman wants to move Immigration Reform early next year 

 

The Hill

 

 

 

Other Links 

 

Join Our List
 
More on Executive Action 

Last week the White House provided more details on Executive Action on Immigration.  Here are some of the highlights to share with your communities:

 

  • Nothing is in place now. To avoid being swindled, potential applicants should be wary of anyone offering to help them apply. Application rules will be published on the USCIS website.
  • People outside the country do not qualify and all immigrants who recently arrived illegally will be considered priorities for deportation. Those eligible must have lived in the country continuously since Jan. 1, 2010 and meet other criteria.
  • A provision in immigration law that allows spouses, parents and minor children of U.S. citizen residents to apply for legal residency without leaving the country for long periods will be expanded to include adult children of U.S. citizens and legal residents and spouses and minor children of legal residents as part of the executive order. New guidelines will be issued expanding the definition of "extreme hardship" that has to be shown to qualify for this provision.
  • Those applying for naturalization will be able to pay application fees with a credit card.
  • People who receive deportation relief will be allowed to travel in certain circumstances but will have to apply for that opportunity.
  • Many of the people eligible for the deportation relief are not people who would normally be considered priorities for removal from the country since they generally would not have criminal records.
  • People who apply by 2015 should get their three-year deportation deferrals by 2016.
  • The administration is assembling a list of acceptable and required documentation to prove eligibility.
  

Fact check: No back taxes in 

immigration action

The immigration plan announced by Obama on Nov. 20 provides a temporary relief of three years from the threat of deportation to parents who are in the country illegally but who have children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. The parents must have lived in the United States for at least five years, and they must register, and pass background checks in order to obtain the reprieve. 


 
For immigrants who step forward, the procedure is to make sure that they "start paying their fair share of taxes" so they can "temporarily stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation for three years at a time," says a White House fact sheet.


The key word in there is "start." There is no mechanism to require immigrants in the country illegally to pay any back taxes in order to obtain a three-year work authorization.  An Obama administration official told us the president misspoke when he said that immigrants would have to "pay any back taxes."

 

It's understandable that the president and others might inadvertently say that the executive action includes a provision on back taxes as they toggle back and forth between describing the particulars of the executive action, and still advocating for a congressional solution like the Senate bill. But for anyone who is directly affected by the president's action and is considering stepping forward to register, it should be clear that currently, the executive action includes no such requirement.

 
Read the entire article in USA Today here.

National Migration Week 2015: January 4 - 10

We are One Family Under God 


National Migration Week 2015 will take place January 4 - 10 with the theme, "We are One Family Under God," which brings to mind the importance of family in our daily lives. This reminder is particularly important when dealing with the migration phenomenon, as family members are too often separated from one another. Please see the USCCB's website for an assortment of resources that can help with your celebration of National Migration Week 2015.   

 

http://www.usccb.org/about/migration-and-refugee-services/national-migration-week/. 

CLINIC Prepares ISSUE BRIEF on

SUMMARY OF ADMINISTRATIVE RELIEF 

 

This clear and concise summary illustrates important information on:

 

I. Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) 

 

II. Expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) 

 

III. New Enforcement Priorities

 

IV. Advance Parole Travel Guidance

 

V. Waivers of Inadmissibility

 

Read the brief here

New Websites on Administrative Relief

Nineteen immigration organizations, such as CLINIC, AILA, NILC, NCLR, UNITE HERE, have come together to create a website that will have current and correct information on Administrative Relief.

 

Check out the website:  http://www.adminrelief.org/

 

 

Our friends in Chicago have created a website, which has a wealth of information that is helpful to the undocumented Irish.   Find out more at:  http://undocumentedirish.com/


The Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (www.ciic-usa.org) and the Irish Apostolate USA (www.usairish.org) websites will provide links to important information for the Irish community.  

An Irish Blessing At Christmas

In the Light of the Christmas Star -
God Bless You.
In Your Travels, both Near and Far -
God Bless You.
As You Celebrate Jesus' Birth -
God Bless You.
And As You Pray for Peace on Earth - 
God Bless You.

Nollag Shona (Happy Christmas) from the IAUSA Board:

Fr. Brendan McBride, President
Fr. John McCarthy, Treasurer
Brian Hanley
Celine Kennelly
Fr. John Madigan
Geri Garvey

xmas-tree-candles.jpg  

Join the Justice for Immigrants Campaign

The 
Justice for Immigrants Campaign continues to build its grassroots support for comprehensive immigration reform.   

If you want to be notified of immigration legislation updates , NOW is the time to join the JFI Action Alert list.  Sign up at: 
The Irish Apostolate USA is the umbrella organization for the Irish Immigration Pastoral and Outreach Centers in the United States, under the direction of the Irish Episcopal Council for Emigrants. 

Please visit our website for more information: 
 
Geri Garvey, Administrator
Irish Apostolate USA
Phone/Fax:  301-384-3375     Email: [email protected]