USCCB President Extends Bishops’ Working Group on Immigration

June 15, 2017
By Ss. Peter & Paul

INDIANAPOLIS—Recognizing the continued urgency for comprehensive
immigration reform, a humane refugee policy and a safe border, Cardinal Daniel
DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB) has extended the bishops Working Group on Immigration.

Cardinal DiNardo made the announcement on the second
day of the 2017 Spring General Assembly in Indianapolis.

The working group is chaired by Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles. Other
members of the working group include the chairmen of the following USCCB
committees: Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Texas, chairman of the Committee
on Migration; Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the
Committee on Domestic Social Development; Auxiliary Bishop Nelson J. Pérez of
Rockville Centre, New York, chairman of the Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs;
Bishop Joseph J. Tyson of Yakima, Washington, chairman of the Subcommittee on
Pastoral Care of Migrants; and Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, New Mexico,
chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace.

Activities carried out by member-chairmen of the
working group included statements responding to executive orders on interior
enforcement, sanctuary cities, and refugee resettlement; and on legislation
including the BRIDGE Act, which would provide temporary relief from deportation
to youth previously protected through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA) program.

The group also facilitates diocesan resources such as
policy reports, prayers, educational materials, action alerts and pastoral
accompaniment, and has held frequent communications among the members to
discuss concerns and priorities. They also share episcopal guidance with
outside partners such as Catholic Relief Services; Catholic Legal Immigration
Network, Inc.; Center for Migration Studies; and Catholic Charities USA.

Archbishop Gomez and Bishop Vásquez presented an oral
report to the full body of bishops on the activities of the working group on
June 14.

Keywords:
USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, June meeting, Spring
General Assembly, Indianapolis, Committee on Migration, U.S. Bishops’ Working
Group on Migration, migration, migrants, refugees, Strangers No Longer, asylum,
protection, human dignity, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Norma Montenegro Flynn
media-relations@usccb.org

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops