On September 27, 2017, Pope Francis launched a two-year campaign of solidarity with migrants, called “Share the Journey.” In response, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is joining with all the Roman Catholic dioceses of Ohio as well as other Catholic, faith-based and community partners to urge Congress to pass the DREAM Act or similar legislation protecting young immigrants.
 
Approximately 800,000 youth have received protection through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program since its inception by Executive Order in 2012. While DACA provided no legal status, it did provide recipients with a temporary reprieve from deportation and employment authorization for legal work opportunities in the United States. In September, the Trump Administration announced that it would  terminate DACA in March 2018. Thereafter, DACA youth will be at risk of deportation from the U.S. –the only country many have ever really known. The U.S. bishops believe that it is Congress’ job to legislate before this deadline a permanent fix for DACA youth, who were brought to the United States through no choice of their own and who continue to have no viable path to regularize their status.
 
We are calling on the Catholic faithful and all people of good will to urge Congress to help these young immigrants through passage of the DREAM Act (S.1615/H.R.3440) or similar legislation before March 2018.
 
Across Ohio, we will be generating 10,000 letters to our U.S. Senators and  Representatives from Ohio (representing about 4,400 DACA recipients and 5,100 renewals since the program began in 2012) urging their support for this legislation. Parishes and schools are encouraged to undertake a letter-writing campaign for this cause. We will be collecting letters between now and December18 (International Migrants Day).
 
To learn more and participate, please contact Catholic Social Action at  513.421.3131x2660 or [email protected] in Cincinnati.