November 2… Alert on Immigration What’s Happening? Hillary Clinton has agreed to stop accepting money from private prison lobbyists and to donate the direct contributions received thus far. For the past 40 years, private prison companies like Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and GEO Group have spent millions to influence politicians that control criminal justice policy so they can continue to profit off anti-Black mass incarceration. Clinton's decision to cut ties with private prison lobbyists, after discussions with ColorOfChange and other racial justice activists, is a clear sign that the industry's influence is waning. (ColorOfChange) Last week Congress announced the framework for a 2-year budget deal. It will provide partial relief to the spending caps for FY 2016 and 2017. The increase will be equally divided between defense and non-defense discretionary spending. This increase will be paid for by a mixture of policies, including changes to farm subsidies, selling oil from our strategic petroleum reserve, and extending the across-the-board cuts on mandatory programs (primarily Medicare provider payments) in the future. Additional funding for defense and homeland security activities will also be provided through an off-budget “overseas contingency operations” (OCO) fund that is not offset. In addition, the bill temporarily suspends the “debt ceiling,” which limits the total amount of money that the US government can owe, until Mar.2017. Without this flexibility, the Treasury has estimated that as soon as next week, it would be unable to pay federal workers, make Social Security and other benefit payments, or provide grants to states. The bill also makes the Social Security Disability Insurance program solvent through 2022 and prevents Medicare beneficiaries from facing sharp increases in their premiums. While this budget deal is a helpful first step, it represents only a partial restoration of resources that were lost to several years of federal budget retrenchment and stalemate; it does not represent significant new investment. (CLASP)

Action One: Prayer God of justice and compassion, we ask forgiveness for the widening gulf between rich and poor, for the continuing disparities between those that have so much and those who have so little and for the suffering of those people who are excluded from the table of abundance. Fill us with a living faith that we may become lively seeds of your kingdom, continually growing in your way of love, instruments of personal and social reconciliation, vehicles for a new dawn when those in poverty are welcomed to the table where compassion and justice meet. Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by Alan Litherland; Source: Education for Justice)

Action Two: Calls/Letters NATIONAL LEVEL: Call and thank Sen. Kirk for voting no on S. 2146 (1-888-897-9753 – you’ll be connected to NETWORK's Action Hotline) Sample Script: "Hi, my name is [NAME] and I am a constituent from [TOWN]. I'm calling to thank Senator Kirk for voting NO on S. 2146, the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act. I appreciate that Senator Kirk was the only Republican to oppose this bill, and I hope he will continue to stand up for immigrant's rights in the future. Thank you again!"

Urge Congress to Pass Emergency Funding for Refugees: http://cqrcengage.com/jesuit/app/write-aletter?5&engagementId=139633#.Vi-QgWmcdqg

Do Not License Immigrant Family Detention Camps as Child Care Facilities: https://grassrootsleadership.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/petition/sign?sid=22&reset=1

Help Albany Park Family Fight Deportation: http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/portfolio/maria/ Tell your Senators to Support Supplemental Emergency Funding for Syrian Refugee Crisis : https://secure2.convio.net/lirs/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=60F7E42EBB0A0BF02347163439FCFEC6.app261a?cmd=display&page=Us erAction&id=201#.ViUXdCtWLYG

Tell your Senators to Support the Second Chance Act: http://cqrcengage.com/catholiccharitiesusa/app/onestep-write-aletter?0&engagementId=117233

Stand with Pope Francis on Immigration: http://cqrcengage.com/jesuit/app/onestep-write-a-letter?3&engagementId=132181 Tell Congress: Save Lives; Prioritize Genocide Prevention: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-save-livesprioriti-1?source=c.em.cp&r_by=14268177

Tell Congress: Ban Private For-Profit Prisons: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/private_prisons?t=2&akid=15710.8488121.qGEx5w

Tell Secretary Johnson: Stop the Fight to Keep Women & Children Locked Up: https://secure3.convio.net/sojo/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=944

Tell Congress to Protect Families Who Flee to Safety: https://secure2.convio.net/elca/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=BB351D320B367FF51487E82A350D90B3.app258b?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=420

STATE LEVEL: Call Gov. Rauner (217-782-0244) and tell him not to make cuts for vulnerable groups in FY2016. Please do not balance the budget on the back of the poor & vulnerable. People need these services & programs.

Action Three: Education America’s Immigration Battle by the Numbers: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/immigration-2/immigrationbattle/americas-immigration-battle-by-the-numbers/

Is the US Truly Deporting ‘Felons, Not Families?’: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/immigration-2/immigrationbattle/has-the-u-s-really-shifted-on-deportations/

Action Four: Events/Resources USCCB/JFI National Convening – Nov. 11-13th in Chicago [Registration here: http://bit.ly/1LrZ6Vg] Testimony from Bishop Seitz of El Paso on behalf of USCCB in a Senate hearing on migration: http://www.hsgac.senate.gov/hearings/ongoing-migration-from-central-america-an-examination-of-fy2015-apprehensions

Toolkit for visiting Congress in support of Syrian Refugees: http://www.rcusa.org/uploads/pdfs/members/Local%20Congressional%20Visit%20Advocacy%20Toolkit_09.16.15.pdf

IWC is collecting supplies for mothers & children being released from detention & dropped off at the local Greyhound station. Registry: http://www.myregistry.com/organization/Interfaith-Welcome-Coalition-San-Antonio-TX/850453#

Action Five: Social Media Twitter: Access your member of Congress’ twitter handle at http://stuffthought.com/blog/113th-congress-twitter-handles/ Sample Tweet: .@REPNAME stand with #refugee communities – vote for HR1568, 2798, & 2839! Sample Tweet: .@POTUS @DHSgov: Follow the court ruling. Release mothers and children seeking protection. #EndFamilyDetention Thank you for your efforts!