Our speaker on January 12 was Ralph Enriquez, Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services for Catholic Charities.
Along with the Rapid Response Shelter run by Jewish Family Services, Catholic Charities also houses asylum seekers who have just gotten through the Border Patrol process and are moving on to be with their sponsors. Currently, there are not enough beds in these shelters for people (many are Venezuelans) who do not have a sponsor, and there was a glitch when the flights were canceled over Christmas. Catholic Charities is an important player in California’s welcoming plan for migrants fleeing their home countries. Maria Galleta is also going to be at our meeting to tell us about the Thanksgiving dinner she and her team hosted for 100 people who have been deported and live in Tijuana. Our committee supported this mission.
Unfortunately, no bills to help DACA recipients, Afghans, or farmworkers were passed in the lame duck Congress, although the LWV Immigration Discussion Group got the LWVUS to write to the members of Congress supporting Dreamers again. Many other organizations pleaded with Congress and are concerned that our prospects will be less favorable in the new Congress.