Immigration Advocacy and Asylum Team
Solidarity with Migrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers
Learn about our new Asylum Accompaniment Team!
St. Joseph Parish proudly stands with immigrants and refugees. We understand that no one chooses to flee their home and come to a country far away - they are forced to by violence and poverty (conditions which the United States holds responsibility for creating). We welcome migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers from all over the world - Afghanistan, Central America, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine. It doesn't matter where you are from: you have a home here.
Faith Justice: Immigration Advocacy and Accompaniment
www.stjosephparish.org/immigration
In 2020, the St. Joe's Faith Justice Committee requested input from the parish in feedback sessions to determine desired focus areas. Immigration continued to be an area of focus for the parish community.
Over the years, one of the main initiatives has been to develop relationships with organizations that work on immigration issues (locally, regionally and nationally) and to try and support their respective efforts through advocacy, fundraising, and direct service.
We have maintained connection with most of the organizations listed below, although naturally some have been stronger than others. Our key relationships have been with Kino Border Initiative and Jesuit Refugee Service. However, our immigration leadership does stay connected with most of those listed and continues to act as a facilitator in sharing information and requests for assistance with the parish community. Our primary focus with many of these organizations has been related to fundraising and advocacy efforts.
Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center (IPJC)
St James Cathedral Immigrant Assistance
Seattle Archdiocese Immigrant and Refugee Ministry
Seattle University Campus Ministry
WA Immigration Solidarity Network (WAISN)
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Direct Service is a key component of our work. For example, there has been strong engagement from the parish relating to Kino Immersion trips. Our first trip took place in November 2019 (10 participants), our second trip was in November 2021 (10 participants) and the third was in April 2023 (6 participants). These trips can be life-changing for the participants. The teams will typically debrief on their final day and begin to plan what they can do when they return to Seattle to make a difference in immigration related topics - both individually and collectively within the community. We plan on another trip during the Fall of 2024. Email kino@stjosephparish.org for more information!
Local direct service opportunities were limited during the pandemic, but a group of St. Joe's parishioners did participate in the JRS "40 Miles for Migrants" walk in 2021 to raise funding for JRS. St. Joe's also participated in a march to support an end to Title 42 in January 2022. This activity was organized by the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center and was supported by local parishes. Members of the St. Joe's team had roles in organizing and leading the event. We also have partnered with JRS to bring in Ukraine front-line workers for an educational event and host an “Immigration Immersion Experience” at Seattle University in 2023.
Most recently an Asylum Accompaniment Team was formed as a follow up from the November 2021 Kino trip team. While progress began in 2022, a request for help supporting an asylum-seeker from Nicaragua jump-started these efforts in December 2022. This team has grown organically as word spread in our community and at least 30 people have been engaged or have expressed interest. We help provide legal, housing, healthcare, education, and employment support along with other identified needs. While current efforts are focused on this individual, our hope is that this structure will support others needing help in the future. Email us at asylumteam@stjosephparish.org to join the effort! There are opportunities for translators, healthcare professionals, people with connections to education and housing, etc.
In order to remain knowledgeable on immigration related work, the Faith Justice Immigration lay leadership team continues to participate in local collaborative meetings led by St. James Cathedral immigration group and the Seattle Archdiocese Immigration group. Quarterly meetings are held to provide updates and share information.
In addition, there is an annual Immigration Summit typically held in August that St. Joe's immigration leadership participates in. There are many ways to engage if you have interest. Please check our weekly E-Newsletter and Church Bulletin for opportunities to engage.