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Archbishop Jose H. Gomez addresses about 4,000 attendees to a special mass for immigration reform at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Sunday. About 400 Orange County residents drove or rode buses to the mass. ///ADDITIONAL INFO : immig.catholics.0722 Shot Date 072113 PHOTO BY ANA VENEGAS Hundreds of Orange County Catholics headed to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles for a special Mass to pray for immigration reform. About four thousand Catholics filled the cathedral to capacity as Archbiship Jose H. Gomez officiated.

Joey Santos, 12, top right, and Matthew Santos, 7, bottom right, watch Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, at left, bless Ezmelda Gutierrez, of Pasadena, center, following a mass for immigration reform at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. About 400 Orange County residents attended the mass on Sunday. ///ADDITIONAL INFO : immig.catholics.0722 Shot Date 072113 PHOTO BY ANA VENEGAS Hundreds of Orange County Catholics headed to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles for a special Mass to pray for immigration reform. About four thousand Catholics filled the cathedral to capacity as Archbiship Jose H. Gomez officiated.

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez meets with attendees following a mass for immigration reform at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles in 2013. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

When it comes to immigration reform, the last refuge, quite simply, might be prayer.

A group of about 15 Catholics from Santiago de Compostela parish, mostly immigrant, will be doing just that over the next three days. Theyll be walking, and praying.

They also hope to raise awareness in the communities they pass through on a 52-mile pilgrimage from their church in Lake Forest to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles, said Lake Forest resident and parishioner Tom Haas, who will lead the group

Its not a march, its not a protest, he said. We are going to quietly pray that some reasonable immigration reform occurs in this country.

The walk is expected to culminate with Archbishop Jose H. Gomez celebrating the special Mass in Recognition of All Immigrants, at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18, at the cathedral.

Haas said the pilgrims first stop on Friday will be at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Irvine. Theyll spend Friday night at St. Boniface in Anaheim. St. Marcellinus in the city of Commerce will serve as their rest stop Saturday night.

The Most Rev. David OConnell, Auxiliary Bishop for the San Gabriel Pastoral Region, will join the group for the last leg of their journey Sunday morning, Haas said.

Were hoping more people join us as we walk toward Los Angeles, he said.

The idea for the walk came from Antonio Mendez, a parishioner at the Lake Forest church.

Three years ago I took a busload of parishioners from our church to the Mass in Los Angeles, Haas said. When we came out of the cathedral, I saw (Mendez) and I knew he didnt take the bus.

He learned that Mendez had walked all the way from Lake Forest.

He refused to take the bus back with us because he wanted to walk and pray, Haas said.

The next year, Mendez walked with four others and they spent the nights in public parks. This year, when Gomez heard about the pilgrims, he asked the church to put together a more organized walk, Haas said.

A pilgrimage is a sacrifice made in prayer that hopefully gets the attention of God, he said.

Even though Haas is not Hispanic, he said, most of the others who are walking are.

They are extremely concerned about the current immigration situation, especially about families getting separated, he said. They are worried about the wall that has been promised by President Trump. They are concerned about the possible doubling in number of ICE agents and increase in deportations.

Haas said as a Catholic he respects the borders and the nations law. But when people cross over and make it to this country, it becomes a humanitarian issue, he said.

We cant let them die, Haas said.

Parishioners at St. Marcellinus are eager to pray with the group Saturday evening, said Humberto Ramos, parish life director at the church.

Its wonderful that these pilgrims have taken on the issue of immigration, he said, adding that the Archdiocese started holding the Mass six years ago to not just pray for immigration reform, but also to recognize immigrants contributions.

We are all united in prayer, Ramos said. And thats a powerful thing.

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Catholic pilgrims undertake 52-mile walk to pray for immigration reform - OCRegister

Six-year-old Michael Claros joins his parents Miguel Claros, left, and Fatima Quisbert, right, during a rally for immigration reform in this Nov. 20, 2015, file photo outside the Supreme Court. Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

The protection program for parents, like the one for young immigrants, was created with a policy memo during the Obama administration. Both programs required that participants meet certain conditions, including not having a criminal history. As part of the expansion to protect immigrant parents living in the United States illegally, the Obama administration also sought to provide the young immigrants with work permits good for three years at a time. That provision was also blocked by the Texas judge.

Revoking the memo and ending the stalled program fulfill a key campaign promise by Trump, who pledged to "immediately" cancel both efforts. Trump has not said what he plans to do about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, but so far most immigrants protected by the effort have not been targeted by stepped-up efforts to find and deport immigrants living in the country illegally. As of March 31, about 787,000 young immigrants have been approved for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, according to government data.

Arrests of immigrants in the interior of the country have increased under the Trump administration, but deportations are slightly down as fewer people have been caught crossing the Mexican border into the United States illegally.

Trump has made immigration enforcement a top priority and has vowed to continue a crackdown on those living in U.S. illegally and those trying to sneak into the country.

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Trump Administration Revokes Blocked Program to Protect Immigrant Parents - NBCNews.com

More than 780,000 DREAMers have been allowed to stay in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program created under President Obama. Many worry about their future under President Trump. USA TODAY

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.(Photo: Susan Walsh, AP)

WASHINGTON President Trump's Department of Homeland Security has rescinded former President Barack Obama's order shielding millions of migrants from deportation, but is letting stand a policy that grants reprieves to people who arrived in the United States as children.

Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly announced late Thursday that, after consulting with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, he is rescinding an Obama memorandum from 2014 that allowed immigrants to remain in the United States under certain conditions.

The rescinded memo created a program that protected undocumented immigrants from deportation if they have a child who is a U.S. citizen or lawful resident.

The program known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA was never implemented because it was challenged in court by 26 states and was put on hold by federal courts.

The DHS decision to rescind the memo came ahead of a court-ordered deadline to resolve the case.

Kelly said in a news release that he decided to rescind the memo because there is no credible path forward to litigate the policy.

The decision fulfills part of a campaign promise by Trump, who vowed to overturn two of Obamas memos on illegal immigration.

However, Kelly said the decision would not impact an Obama program created in 2012 that granted reprieves from deportation to nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children.

The terms of that program, known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, will not change, Kelly said.

The rescinded program provided expanded work authorization for recipients under DACA.

But so-called Dreamers who were issued three-year extensions before the district courts injunction will not be affected and will be eligible to seek a two-year extension upon their expiration," the news release said. "No work permits will be terminated prior to their current expiration dates."

Read more:

DREAMers on edge over Trump on fifth anniversary of protected status

Undocumented Texas students fight anti-sanctuary law

Fed's Kaplan: Immigration crackdown hurting economy

Advocates for undocumented immigrants warned that while Kelly left the DACA program in place for now, theres nothing to keep the Trump administration from reversing it in the future.

This memo and the response from the White House is not a permanent promise to protect the program, said Greisa Martinez Rosas, advocacy director forUnited We Dream, which identifies itself as the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation.

The DACA program still stands," she said, "but its vulnerable.

Advocacy groups also were incensed that the Trump administration rescinded the parental program on the fifth anniversary of DACA.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., praised Kelly's decision to rescind the DAPA program, calling it a deeply irresponsible policy from the start.

It essentially said to illegal immigrants that we wouldnt enforce our laws and encouraged them to risk their lives in coming to the United States, Cotton said. It was also a blatant attempt by the president to circumvent Congress that the courts swiftly shut down. Im glad to see Secretary Kelly take it off the books. Such a high-handed fiat deserves nothing less than to be rescinded in full.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., blasted Kellys decision, noting that it came as Democrats and Republicans had put aside partisanship and gathered for the Congressional Baseball Game following theshooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., during a practice session early Wednesday.

Before the game had even finished, the Trump administration shattered this spirit of good feelings by announcing the rescission of the DAPA program, Beyer said.

Beyer took some confront in noting that the DACA program would remain in place, but said that the need for comprehensive immigration reform giving undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship has never been more urgent.

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Trump keeps policy on Dreamers, eliminates protection for older immigrants - USA TODAY

For the second time this year, an influential group of Chicago-area business leaders is openly challenging the Trump administration's tough anti-immigration policies.

But this time around, the more than 170 corporate CEOs, midsized-business owners, neighborhood entrepreneurs and investors are pressing Gov. Bruce Rauner to join their crusade.

This week, the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition sent a letter to Rauner urging him to sign the Illinois Trust Act, which recently was passed by the General Assembly. The bipartisan measure seeks to provide increased legal protections to immigrants.

Rauner should sign this bill into law, despite the possibility of political blowback or maybe a nasty tweet from President Donald Trump. It will boost the state's economic fortunes, while enabling Illinois to chart a realistic approach to dealing with the complex issue of immigration, particularly its impact on labor and business.

"Rauner has a very interesting decision to make," says Scott Grams, executive director of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, which has 800 members statewide. "Illinois has an opportunity to become a real beacon on immigration."

The governor's office says the Illinois Trust Act legislation is "under review" and Rauner is a believer in "comprehensive immigration reform."

By approving the bill, Rauner would make progress on the immigration front by providing more clarity and security to most everyone in this state touched by the issue.

Monique Garcia and Haley BeMiller

At its core, the legislative measure sensibly prohibits local or state police from cooperating with federal authorities investigating immigrants unless they possess a court-issued criminal warrant, a basic constitutional right.

It also forbids local law enforcement from stopping, searching and arresting anyone based only on immigration or citizenship status. Federal agents still could catch and deport criminals in the country illegally, which is the appropriate course of action.

As important, the act would provide the majority of immigrants in the country illegally, and their families, the assurance of living and working in Illinois without having to continually look over their shoulders in dread.

Landscapers are among a host of local employers favoring the proposed Illinois Trust Act. Representatives of the area's retail, hospitality, restaurants, health care, and agriculture businesses lined up to sign the letter to Rauner.

All are justifiably concerned about the repercussions of Trump's pledge to mass-deport people who are living here illegally and tighten entry across U.S. borders.

That's not a big surprise.

Anyone who buys, sells or uses the society's most basic goods and services soon realizes how highly dependent our economy has become on immigrant labor.

Unfortunately, it's getting increasingly difficult to recruit and retain immigrant workers amid a highly charged anti-immigrant environment. The "fear generated by increased immigration enforcement over the past five months has a negative impact," the coalition letter asserts.

This anxiety isn't restricted to people who are not legally authorized to be here, but also affects people who are here legally, including children and young adults who are concerned about being profiled or picked up at random by law enforcement.

This week, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement reasserted the administration's vow to track down people who are living here illegally, while asking Congress for more tax money to do the job.

"What's going on now is making people afraid to go to work," says Carole Segal, co-founder of retailer Crate and Barrel and co-chair of the immigration coalition.

Among the other local business and civic leaders supporting the Illinois Trust Act: Susan Crown, founder of a namesake investment firm and member of the wealthy Crown family; Mike Englehart, CEO of Presence Health; Morton Schapiro, president of Northwestern University; Mark Gordon, CEO of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association; and William Kunkler, executive vice president of private equity firm CC Industries.

John Rowe, chairman emeritus for Exelon and co-chair of the coalition, and Glenn Tilton, ex-chairman of United Airlines, are also on board.

But some marquee employers haven't pitched in, including McDonald's. A coalition spokeswoman says the group continues to recruit corporate names and is reaching out to the fast-food giant and others.

Earlier this year, the coalition sent a letter to Trump urging him not to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Trump kept the plan, which basically allows nearly 750,000 young people who are children of immigrants in the country illegally to obtain work permits and remain in the country.

Yes, illegal immigration is a vexing, multidimensional dilemma. But it can't simply be solved by mass deportation and disruption.

In backing the Illinois Trust Act, business leaders are calling for a rational, humane course of action toward immigration enforcement, even though it's at odds with the president's approach.

Illinois' CEO should follow their lead and approve this plan.

roreed@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @reedtribbiz

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Business pushes Rauner to sign bill to protect immigrants - Chicago Tribune

Click here for ongoing updatesfrom the bishops' meeting in Indianapolis.

Taking stock of their efforts over the past six months to combat some Trump administration attempts to crack down on undocumented people living in the United States, Catholic bishops meeting in Indianapolis today pledged to be more proactive in laying out a vision for comprehensive immigration reform.

Bishop Joe Vasquez, head of the bishops migration committee, said in a report to fellow bishops that church leaders now seek to move beyond simple reaction to the various negative proposals we have seen lately.

Following Mr. Trumps surprise victory in November, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops convened a special working group to coordinate the churchs response to immigration proposals from the new administration. That group concluded its work this month.

Archbishop Jos Gomez of Los Angeles, who chaired the group, recounted the flurry of statements condemning many of Mr. Trumps proposals, such as building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and banning refugees from several predominantly Muslim nations. Archbishop Gomez said the bishops efforts helped to make a positive impact on the public conversation regarding the [executive] orders.

In recent months, some Christian groups have declared themselves sanctuaries for undocumented residents, promising to house them in churches if they fear deportations. Catholic leaders have largely shied away from such declarations, insisting that they have no legal basis for such moves and that doing so could ultimately offer false hope to undocumented immigrants.

Instead, Catholic organizations have continued to work with undocumented individuals to pursue legal avenues that could grant them temporary relief.

Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe took to the floor to express concern that these avenues were increasingly being blocked by the Trump administration. He wondered if U.S. bishops might take a more serious look at the sanctuary movement.

We know that for many people who would be deported, they would be going back, I think, very realistically, to a possible death and other kinds of realities, the archbishop said.

But Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento urged caution.

Offering sanctuary, he said, will not provide what the immigrant community needs long term, and that is to be incorporated as fellow citizens, brothers and sisters of one society.

That is not a sustainable, long-term solution, he continued.

Other bishops suggested that the United States should do a better job in encouraging stability, prosperity and peace around the world so that individuals feel safe living in their home countries and, at the same time, should pay attention to economic concerns of Americans who feel threatened by immigration.

How do we express our support or those that are immigrants and new to our country and stand with them, but also understandthe economic hardships that others are experiencing in our country and have a solidarity with them? Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., asked. The chaos of illegal immigration is bad for everybody.

Turning to the politics of immigration, Archbishop Gomez suggested that if the Trump administration is serious about renegotiating Nafta, then maybe they need to include a treaty on the movements of people, because when you move capital, people move, too.

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, meanwhile, suggested that U.S. bishops look to the failed 2013 bipartisan immigration reform effort in the U.S. Senate for inspiration. By telling people what was in that bill...you can simplify the issues, he said.

As the working group winded down, Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego urged fellow bishops not to become complacent on immigration. He questioned whether the temporary working group should disband at all, worrying that it sends a signal that the church is moving from a level of heightened alert on this to a level of lower alert.

Our people are more fearful because of what has gone in the past months, he said. I think we need to be very leery of normalizing the heightened level of fear which is there.

Link:
Bishops renew pledge to fight Trump-backed immigration proposals - America Magazine