Immigration Committee
The Immigration subcommittee of the Peace, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission raises awareness
in our St. Ignatius parish community about factors that contribute to migration, discuss issues affecting immigrants in the US, and highlight ways in which the community can welcome and support migrants and refugees. ​​​​​​​​
The Immigration Committee bearing witness at Burlington ICE Dentention Center.
Pilgrimage in the desert in Kino.
Pilgrimage to US/Mexico border outside of Kino.
Pilgrimage to Kino.
Join Us
The Immigration Committee meets monthly via Zoom
and participates in events throughout the year.
Monthly meetings are on the second Tuesday
of the month at 7:00pm.
Contact Rita Rodriguez through the Parish Office for
a link to join the meeting.
Look for bulletin announcement about events sponsored
by the committee, which in the past have featured initiatives
including:​
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Training to assist in citizenship applications
Bearing witness at ICE detention center
Posada celebration
Bilingual Stations of the Cross​​
Become Informed and Involved
Listed here are immigration/refugee advocacy and outreach organizations.
Many offer volunteer opportunities; all enrich our knowledge of the challenges
faced by migrants and refugees.
​
Boston Area
Catholic Charities Boston
Catholic Charities Boston provides emergency assistance, food and housing support, childcare,
economic services, and migration advocacy. Its immigrant legal services include
asylum, naturalization, family reunification, referrals, and representation.
Get involved: Greater Boston volunteer opportunities include food pantry service, ESOL
tutoring, and support for immigrant legal services. www.ccab.org/ways-to-give/volunteer
Bearing Witness New England
Bearing Witness New England gathers weekly outside the ICE facility in Burlington,
Massachusetts, for nonviolent public witness in solidarity with detained immigrants.
It also organizes rallies, education events, and material support efforts.
Get involved: Attend weekly standouts, help with supply collections,
or use volunteer-led carpools. bearingwitnessne.org
Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)
MIRA Coalition organizes with immigrants, refugees, and community leaders, across Massachusetts.
Its advocacy includes expanding access to immigration legal defense for people facing deportation.
Get involved: Volunteers support citizenship services, voter registration,
communications, events, data entry, and record-keeping. miracoalition.org/petition
Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN)
BIJAN accompanies immigrants through court and ICE check-ins, legal referrals, bond and
legal-fee fundraising, transportation, paperwork, and other immediate needs.
Get involved: Complete the volunteer form to join its email list and receive notice of
upcoming orientations and opportunities. www.beyondbondboston.org/join
Jesuit Connected
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Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS)
JRS accompanies, serves, and advocates for forcibly displaced people.
Its programs address education, economic inclusion, climate-related displacement,
legal protection, and access to essential services.
Get involved: Subscribe to the JRS newsletter for refugee stories, updates,
and opportunities to support displaced communities. jrs.net/en/newsletter
Kino Border Initiative
Kino Border Initiative promotes migration with dignity through humanitarian assistance,
accompaniment, education and encounter, and policy advocacy in Mexico and the United States.
Get involved: Visit the border through an educational immersion program; donate needed
goods through the organization's Wishlist.
www.kinoborderinitiative.org
www.kinoborderinitiative.org/give-goods
Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries
Del Camino accompanies migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border through pastoral care,
humanitarian assistance, immigration guidance, and connections to legal and social resources.
Get involved: Donate funds or needed items, listen to the Jesuit Border Podcast, or subscribe to
the newsletter for updates and service opportunities.
delcamino.org/amazon-wishlist
delcamino.org/the-jesuit-border-podcast
delcamino.org/our-newsletter
Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN)
ISN connects Jesuit schools, parishes, and institutions around Catholic social justice.
It's migration work combines education, faith, public witness, and policy advocacy.
Get involved: Participate in national gatherings, advocacy campaigns,
migrant vigils, and public-witness events. ignatiansolidarity.net
National Organizations
US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
The USCCB coordinates Catholic migration advocacy, education, refugee resettlement,
anti-trafficking work, and other direct services. Its migration work emphasizes human dignity,
family unity, and migrant rights.
Get involved: Use the USCCB Action Center to contact Congress or explore its
migration reports and educational resources.
www.votervoice.net/JFI/campaigns
www.usccb.org/committees/migration
Center for Migration Studies (CMS)
CMS produces migration research and public resources for scholars, institutions, and communities.
Its initiatives include demographic data on U.S. immigrant populations, Catholic immigrant-
integration work, and the peer-reviewed International Migration Review.
Get involved: Explore its public data, research, publications, and Catholic integration
resources online.
https://cmsny.org/about/initiatives/democratizing-data-initiative/
Amica Center for Immigrant Rights
Amica Center provides free legal and social services to detained immigrants and people at risk of
deportation. Its work includes direct representation for adults, services for immigrant
children in federal custody, and impact litigation.
Get involved: Amica offers volunteer opportunities supporting its legal and advocacy work.
amicacenter.org/join-the-fight/volunteer