News and Press Releases
Franciscan Sisters Deepen Into Migration Issues
The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration Encuentro@The Border group grew from FSPA’s 2017 support of immigration as an issue for the congregation to explore. Instead of focusing merely on the meaning of “meet,” we chose to educate ourselves as to the deeper significance of immigration issues, namely the needs of people who could no longer remain in their homes and countries.
Welcoming our Migrant Brothers and Sisters: Root Causes and Opportunities
Migration is a social reality in the history of humanity and inherent to it is the right to development and improvement of living conditions, influenced by multiple factors, such as the following:
The Last Straw? New violations of detainee rights revealed
Three weeks ago Dawn Wooten, formerly a nurse at Irwin County Detention Center, came forward with accusations that a doctor had performed medically unnecessary hysterectomies on many women who were at the Irwin Center under the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Irwin is run by a private, for-profit company, LaSalle Corrections. From a story in Vice, “In interviews with Project South, a Georgia nonprofit, multiple women said that hysterectomies were stunningly frequent among immigrants detained at the facility.
Migrants: people we know, our neighbors, our friends, our brothers and sisters
World Migrant Week is a week in which the church intensifies many activities to continue promoting the message of recognition of the rights of migrants with celebrations and actions such as Eucharist, conferences, courses, festivals, radio programs and live talks.
Guatemala, Migrant Week, September 1-6
The Pilgrim House of the Migrant “Brother Saint Peter” invites you to celebrate Migrant Week, from September 1st to 6th, with a series of initiatives that you can participate in online. “Like Jesus Christ, forced to flee. Welcome, protect, promote and integrate the internally displaced…
COVID 19: The wall of death for migrants in Mexico
When the health emergency was declared in Mexico by the Secretary of Health, various agreements and protocols were implemented to stop the spread of COVID-19. In this context, on April 16, 2020, the First Administrative Judge in Mexico City set an important precedent at the national level by ordering the administrative authorities, including the National Institute of Migration, to take the necessary measures for the protection of the life and health of migrants, asylum seekers or international protection applicants in the immigration stations.
X Anniversary of the massacre in San Fernando Tamaulipas
Every year on August 23, La 72, Migrant and Refugee Shelter commemorates the 10th anniversary of the massacre of 72 migrants in San Fernando Tamaulipas. Each year we raise our voices for those who can no longer do so, with hearts full of pain and anger. Their memory is not forgotten, and our voices are ready to continue demanding justice.
Another brutal attack on migrants, and once again, the authorities won’t respond
To all Civil Society Organizations
To the Municipal, State and Federal Authorities:
During the time that we have been working for migrant human rights, we have denounced the acts of violence exercised against them, both by common criminals as well as by the organized and arbitrary acts of the authorities. During this time of the public health emergency of COVID-19, the migratory flow has decreased; however, violence on the migratory route, which translates into assaults, robberies, sexual violence and kidnapping, has not.
End the climate of harassment towards migrants on the southern border
To all Civil Society Organizations
To the Municipal, State and Federal Authorities:
As the team responsible for accompanying migrants in La 72, a refugee home for migrants, we express our outrage and make known through this statement the prevailing situation in the surroundings of our shelter in Tenosique, Tabasco and at the same time we want to bring to public awareness a series of humiliations and harassment and the violation of human rights of our Central American brothers.
The Franciscan Network on Migration in Honduras and Clamor Network of Honduras Collaborate to Offer an Online Course on Internal Displacement
On August 14, the “Internal Displacement with Pastoral Orientations” course began as a collaborative effort of the Clamor Network of Honduras, the Franciscan Network on Migration in Honduras (RFM-H), the Human Mobility Pastoral Program (PMH). ), the Jesuit Reflection, Research and Communication Team (ERIC), Caritás of Honduras, JPIC-CONFEREH (JPIC- Conference of Religious in Honduras), and the Social Pastoral in Honduras. Among the course participants were people from Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Peru.
San Francisco cafeteria for migrants in Mazatlán, a response to migration in times of COVID
To speak of migration or human mobility is to speak of one of the great challenges of humanity and, if to this we add the health problem of Covid -19, we are facing a truly titanic and uncertain situation, since this entails adding to the already difficult task of mobility, the challenge of public health checkpoints, the closure of some shelters and humanitarian aid stations, limited hospital clinics and a population frightened by excessive information about the Coronavirus.
Online conferences on DACA
One of the immediate immigration issues that we, in the United States, face is DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This program was created by President Obama for these young individuals, also known as Dreamer, through an executive order in June 2012. There are more than 600,000 dreamers in this country and DACA under the present administration this program is being challenged.
Rogue State: The U.S. and immigrant detention in the time of COVID
On July 22, a federal court in Canada declared that sending refugees back to the United States violates those refugees’ fundamental rights: “The Court found that sending refugee claimants back to the U.S. violates their Charter right to liberty and security of the person because many of them are arbitrarily detained in the US in immigration detention centres or county jails, often in atrocious conditions and in clear contravention of international standards.”
Winds of Freedom: reflection from La 72, in the time of the pandemic
During these difficult times, we find solace and inspiration in life’s simple pleasures. From La 72, amidst the suffering and hardship, joy and companionship grow out of creating and sharing age-old traditions.
Humanitarian assistance provided to migrants who seek shelter there
Our shelter in the Province of San Felipe de Jesus has a long history of dedication to the protection and wellbeing of migrants in the southern Mexico region. In this video, La 72 staff describe humanitarian assistance provided to migrants who seek shelter there.
Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants
Presented by Armando González
Thank you, Madam President,
Franciscans International, PBI and the Franciscan Network on Migration, greet the report on the right to freedom of association of migrants and their defenders of the Rapporteur Special.
The coronavirus crisis – a turning point
Spiritual orientation can also provide guidance. In this context, we could draw inspiration from those who follow the guidance of Francis and Clare of Assisi. While they lived in another century and faced other crises, social problems, and epidemics, their work may still shape our present actions. According to his own words in the Testament, Francis finds his way out of this personal life crisis because he dared to overcome the “social distancing” towards lepers imposed by society and the church at that time through friendship and solidarity.
On the way … first season
During the month of June, every Thursday, a series of online interviews were carried out on Facebook with members of the Franciscan Network on Migration (RFM) in collaboration with “La ventana de pazybien.es” (The window of pazybien.es). It was an innovative experience where topics on migration were addressed based on the experience and testimony of the guest speakers.
On the way… testimonies from the Franciscan Network on Migration
June 4, next Thursday, we will begin a series of online interviews “on the way” with members of the Franciscan Network on Migration in collaboration with “la ventana de pazybien.es.” We will address some issues on migration based on the experience and testimony of each guest speaker, who is involved in the protection, defense, and care of migrants in one way or another.
Franciscan Network on Migration – USA
The Network organized the first meeting for members of the Franciscan Network on Migration-USA in April. Twenty-nine individuals representing parishes and congregations including friars, sisters and lay workers joined in online
THE FRANCISCAN EXPERIENCE & RESPONSE: COVID19 & BEYOND
The participants talked about how the COVID19 pandemic has exacerbated social and economic divisions in society. There is a fear that the pandemic will see more deaths from poverty than from the virus itself. The lockdowns and the economic slowdown have seen a disproportionate loss of income amongst those living at the peripheries. The immediate need we face is the call for food and safe shelter.
Deportation Update, April 2020
In April 2020 the US began immediate deportations of people who try to cross the border illegally without any due process. They are not receiving applications for asylum. Without reference to their nationality, they are being delivered to INM or dropped off in Mexico and the INM picks them up off the street and then holds them in detention.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Honduras
During COVID-19, the Franciscan Network’s team in Honduras has focused on providing humanitarian aid and developing a “Laudato Si” project to promote self-sufficiency in their communities.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico
The 72 Home-Shelter for Migrants is under quarantine. There are some people who entered after the quarantine began, but staff require them to remain isolated for 14 days, in the area that once housed unaccompanied minors.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Salto De Agua, Mexico.
The Salto de Agua migrant house in normal times can accommodate up to 200 people but very tight. The base team report that there are not now many migrants passing through their region. The house is still open during the pandemic, although the town has a COVID-19 case detected.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Mazatlán, México
The Comedor San Francisco continues to provide food to people. However, since they cannot feed them together in the dining room, they are distributing bags with basic foods: cakes, sandwiches, tuna or sardines, canned goods, cookies, bottled water, cooked eggs, etc. People are not allowed to stay there onsite.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Guatemala City
Given the restrictions established by the Guatemalan government, there are currently no people housed at the Mezquital refuge. The last people to stay included a family from Honduras and 3 men from San Pedro Sula and Olancho. This was on March 14. The restrictions are for the protection of staff and volunteers. They will evaluate these rules once the restrictions are lifted.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Piedras Negras, Mexico
The Frontera Digna shelter currently houses 34 adults and 14 children. The shelter provides 3 meals a day and will allow guests to stay as long as needed. However, the shelter cannot accept new people. In recent days there have not been many people arriving from the south.
Protect Migrants and Refugees during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Slowing the spread of COVID-19 requires that everyone be included in prevention and protection strategies, especially the most vulnerable, including migrants and refugees. This pandemic is a public health crisis that brings home how interconnected we are. It is
our collective responsibility to act rapidly and in solidarity.
Mexico’s detention network is human rights disaster -and U.S. policy is making it worse
On Friday April 3, a fire broke out during a protest in a makeshift facility, located in Piedras Negras, Mexico, which is being used to detain people deported from the United States.
Communique from La 72 migrant and refugee shelter
It is with great pain and rage we denounce and deeply resent the death last March 31, 2020 of a Guatemalan migrant at the Tenosique Migration Station.
Franciscan Network in Honduras Aims to Raise Consciousness and Take Action to Confront the Critical Migration Situation
The Franciscan Network on Migration’s team in Honduras (RFM-Honduras) is composed of Franciscan and other religious and lay people who minister in different areas of the country. Members of RFM-Honduras represent some of the initial organizers of the Network and over the past year they have worked to consolidate their team
Franciscan Network Launches Membership
With our vision to create a network of Franciscans and franciscan-hearted people who are working on migration issues, the Franciscan Network on Migration is pleased to announce the launch of our formal membership.
Mapping Project
Learn about our shelters and services.
Gathering
Understanding, building and growing the Network
Program Focus
Capacity-Building
Members of the Network are already providing a myriad of resources to migrants. Network members will be able to enhance each other’s work by sharing information and resources via different media (bulletins, meetings and gatherings, capacity-building seminars, resource and route maps, threat advisories, etc.) that they can then pass on to migrants in their care along the route.s.
Support and Protection
Members of the Network will foster the establishment of migrant centers, shelters and houses of refuge in areas where there is a lack of resources by connecting donors to new and ongoing programs.
Advocacy and Collaboration.
Fidelity to the Gospel message compels us to not only to recognize the face of Christ in the poor and the excluded, but also to engage in a social analysis to identify the processes of impoverishment and exclusion e.g. root causes, agents, victims, mechanisms and consequences.
