CommentsNEIGHBORHOOD POLITICS--The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is launching a series of workshops to help improve understanding of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections and immigration relief in general.
The first workshop will be held Wednesday, when Pope Francis launches a global immigrant-advocate campaign, Share the Journey.
“Through this historic campaign the Holy Father hopes to unite us all across the world as one family of God to support our brothers and sisters who have fled their homes seeking a safe and decent life for their families,” said an email press release issued by José H. Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles. “With the end of DACA, more than 800,000 young people who had found hope under DACA are at risk of being deported from the only home they’ve ever known. That is why we will begin the Share the Journey campaign in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by offering a series of workshops to help process extensions for those who qualify for DACA renewal.”
The initial workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Resurrection Parish in Boyle Heights. Other workshop times and locations will be posted on TheNextAmerica.org.
According to the email release, “the workshops are free, open to the general public, and offer those who are eligible the support and legal services necessary to complete and submit applications for renewal of DACA before the deadline of October 5. Those who are interested are asked to call (213) 637-7820 or email [email protected] to set an appointment.”
The workshops follow President Trump’s Sept. 5 announcement that DACA would be rescinded. He tweeted, “Congress now has 6 months to legalize DACA (something the Obama administration was unable to do). If they can’t, I will revisit this issue!” At Sen. Nancy Pelosi’s request, Trump then tried to reassure DACA recipients by tweeting, “For all of those (DACA) that are concerned about your status during the six month period, you have nothing to worry about — No action!” Majorie Cohn’s column at Truthdig illustrated the troubling nature of these messages:
Trump’s [second] tweet was not reassuring. In fact, it was not inconsistent with [Attorney General Jeff] Sessions’ announcement, which also said no action would be taken against the Dreamers [DACA recipients] for six months; then the axe will fall.
The White House Talking Points memo on the rescission of DACA advises, “The Department of Homeland Security urges DACA recipients to use the time remaining on their work authorizations to prepare for and arrange their departure from the United States — including proactively seeking travel documentation — or to apply for other immigration benefits for which they may be eligible.”
Trump’s “No action!” tweet indicates he is being pulled in different directions — by his right-wing nativist base, on the one hand, and by the majority of the population who oppose his heartless act, on the other.
Catholic support is strong for DACA recipients. Pope Francis was critical of Trump’s announcement to end DACA, saying the president should allow undocumented children to remain in the United States if he is truly “pro-life.”
“I have heard it said that the president of the United States presents himself as a man who is pro-life, and if he is a good pro-life [man], then he will understand that the family is the cradle of life and that it must be defended as a unit,” the pope told America magazine.
(Emily Wells is an Ear to the Ground blogger at Truthdig … where this report was first posted.)
-cw
