Photo by Julianna Leopoldkylie Gainey, Senior Director of Immigration Legal Services at Catholic charity organizations Atlanta, talks about new guidelines in the United States about immigration law during an information meeting at the law firm of the Archdiocese Atlanta.
Atlanta
By Natalia Duron | Published on March 11, 2025
Smyrna-Aus February 5th organized Catholic charity organizations Atlanta, the Catholic charity organizations, Atlanta, an information meeting after the election in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, which organized Catholic charity organizations with regard to immigration and associated legislative questions.
Kylie Gainey, Senior Director of Immigration Legal Services at Catholic charity organizations Atlanta, led the event and dealt with the effects of the recent guidelines of the President and the legislation of Georgia on immigrants in the municipality.
“There is a lot of misinformation and fear out there at the moment,” said Gainey. “It is important to know what actually happens and how we can help the needy.”
School faculty, clergy and others visited the current guidelines that could possibly affect people in the archdiocese. During the session, the participants learned the necessary steps in order to be legally secure in the municipality in need of protection.
The session emphasized several executive regulations that affect immigrants and refugees in the United States. According to the information meeting, it was emphasized that all persons, regardless of their immigration status, have rights.
Gainey discussed the following guidelines – orders that have a direct impact on certain parishioners, parishioners and children in the archdiocese:
Boss citizenship
On January 20, the White House gave out one Executive order This would try to restrict citizenship to a certain extent.
According to the order with the title “Protection of the importance and the value of American citizenship”, the birthright of citizenship no longer applies to two classes of children: those who were illegally presented if the father is not a US citizen or lawful constant residents, and those who were born by mothers with a temporary status if the father did not have a US citizen or a legal citizen is a constant resident.
The Executive Ordinance was questioned by legislators and lawsuits. The subcommittee of the justice of the house held a hearing on February 25 to discuss its intentions.
Opponents say that the order of the fourteenth change contradicts that “all people born or naturalized in the United States and the responsibility of the United States are born or naturalized, and the state in which they live are citizens of the United States and the state.”
In 1898 the principle was clarified to include children who were born, regardless of their status by the case of the Supreme Court United States against Wong Kim Ark.
The information meeting emphasized the importance of the birthright of citizenship and found that millions of children who were born out of non -citizens' parents are safer.
“Sensitive places” politicians
In January the Department of Homeland Security Involved a former president -memo These detailed guidelines for agents for immigration and customs authorities (ICE) to obtain the approval of a manager before individuals are arrested in or near “sensitive locations” such as schools, hospitals, worship centers or social service accommodation.
This cancellation of the previous guideline gives the ICE agents the opportunity to take enforcement measures in these rooms without the necessary approval, and according to the new guideline it becomes familiar that they “use common sense”.
Religious leaders across the country have spoken out against new politics. In December the possibility of cancellation, a group of Christian leaders, including two Catholic bishops in Arizona, feared stated together that ice in sensitive places violate a person's law to exercise their religious freedom.
“We think it is unacceptable that undocumented people could be intimidated by visiting a church and thus exercised their right to religious practice,” wrote the leaders.
On February 5, Cynthia Welsh asked a question during the immigration and refugee information meeting in the law firm. The cleric members, and the school and ministries of the school and ministries visited the program that was offered by Catholic charity organizations Atlanta. Photo by Julianna Leopold
Refugee registrations, financing programs
The services that Catholic charity organizations and USCCB have provided for refugees were described at the meeting. The services are intended for refugee families who have undergone the High Commissioner for the United Nations Refugee process and have an approved application for resettlement with the US citizenship and immigration services. The services are intended to help refugees to achieve economic and social self -sufficiency in the United States within their first nine months.
“In order to reorganize the United States' refugee description program”, an arrangement on January 20 remained the acceptance of refugees. In accordance with this guideline, the administration suspended the financing for reorganization programs in the United States on January 24. The USCC, which carried out the largest non-governmental refugee program in the United States, sued the administration on February 18 and explained that the abrupt suspension of the financing for reflective help programs is illegal.
In the lawsuit it was found that the Catholic Church has been an important support for refugees for almost 80 years and that USCCB has expanded the mission through its partnership with the US refugee recording program.
“For the first time in forty -five years, the government has the financing of the USCCB for the essential services that USCCB provides state -approved refugees, including the financing, including the refugees already included with USCCB and their sub -recipients,” said the conference in their complaint. “The government was able to consider and addressed the obvious and catastrophic consequences, which would impose an immediate financing suspension for USCCB, its sub -recipients and individual refugees.”
On February 25, a US district judge granted an injunction that blocked the new setting.
The Trump administration “ended” its contract with the US Conference of the Catholic Bishops for the resettlement of refugees on February 27.
Help the needy
The session in the law firm informed the school and religious leaders of opportunities to help members of the community who have challenges under the new administration. Immigration support centers across the country have also implemented paths to help.
After National immigration law center (Nilc), It is recommended that schools should train their teachers and administrators in order to know the current laws and guidelines in relation to students and those who protect them.
Nilc encourages schools Create family emergency plans This includes a list of resources and services for families that may be influenced by the sudden enforcement of immigration. The establishment of a clear protocol for teachers in the event of an emergency is of crucial importance and explained the center.
Although ICE agents can enter public spaces that are open to meetings, they cannot enter no private areas of the worship location such as offices or only-employee areas without permission or a judge signed by a judge.
Religious leaders should inform their municipal bands, which areas are private and which areas are accessible to the public and explained Nilc on his website.
The session reminded the participants that everyone has protection protection and the right to be protected as part of the fourth and fifth change in the US constitution.
While the guidelines develop, these changes must be pursued and endangered communities regularly updated so that everyone can be informed and prepared, said meeting manager.
“Do you know your rights”
In cooperation with the office of intercultural ministries of the archdiocese, Jocelyn Calvillo, immigration lawyer for Catholic charity organizations Atlanta, organized “Know your rights” versions to present clear legal guidance to the participants.
In the forums, the forums priorified the correct details with immigrants and ministries and alleviate their concerns using information from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (Clinic). The participants learned how important it is to maintain a list of emergency contacts and copies of more important work for all family members.
Yolanda Munoz, director of Hispanic and Latino ministries for the archdiocese, said that there can be a big difference in the life of immigrants that it can make a big difference.
“It helps them to continue to live 'Lo Cotidiano' (their everyday life) with reduced fear and fear. People who took part in the forums go with a feeling of relief and the renewed belief, who knew that God is in the middle of the storm,” said Munoz. “They came to the forums that are full of questions and misinformation. They went informed and got out with hope.”
