Driving toward Immigration Justice dear members I am realizing that in just one year NETWORK has NETW RK grown in stature and oppor- A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby tunity. We have built on the NETWORK—a Catholic leader great work of the past and in the global movement for justice and peace—edu- are experiencing increased cates, organizes and lobbies opportunity to influence leg- for economic islative policy. To this end we and social transformation. have created a new strategic Walk the street with us into history. NETWORK Board of Directors plan that continues to put Get off the sidewalk. Regina Ann Brummel, CSJ mission at the center of our Kevin M. Callahan —Dolores Huerta Tom Cordaro work while trying to build Ouisa Davis the necessary organizational Sisters Simone Campbell and Mary Ellen Lacy and other “Nuns on the Bus” march Patricia Mullahy Fugere with Dolores Huerta, renowned activist for farmworker justice and human rights. Delia Gomez capability to grow. Lorena G. Gonzalez This means that we have Mary Beth Hamm, SSJ Thomas Kelly added Paul Marchione as Contents Donna Marie Korba, IHM our managing director so envisioning Patricia Mejia that someone is paying close Ann Scholz, SSND 3 NETWORK’s Nuns on the Bus— Sandra Thibodeaux, MMB attention to the internal Meeting Fear and Hope in our NETWORK Education Program functioning of our work. Nation Board of Directors Shantha Ready Alonso has Meeting the realities of immigrants caught up Dierdre Griffin in our broken system Diane Guerin, RSM joined us as our field staff Barbara Lange bringing with her a lot of Dean Manternach cover story ecumenical experience at Anna Sandidge Raise Your Hands, Raise Your Jerry Zurek the National Council of 5 Voice for Comprehensive NETWORK/NEP Staff Churches. Shannon Hughes Immigration Reform Communications Director/Managing Editor— and the education team are Stephanie Niedringhaus Behind-the-scenes look at this summer’s bus trip Coordinator of Annual Giving—Margaret ready to launch our faith and Brevig taxes work called “We the focus on the hill Emerson Hunger Fellow—Dominique Hazzard Taxpayer.” Sr. Marge Clark 8 New Challenges on the Hill Executive Director—Simone Campbell, SSS has continued to work on Congressional inaction and hyper-partisanship Executive Director Assistant—LaTreviette harm chances of passing needed legislation Matthews economic justice, bringing Field Coordinator—Jean Sammon creative energy to the lobby- toward a global community Field Manager—Shantha Ready Alonso IT Coordinator—Joy Wigwe ing on the Hill. In short, all 10 Gifts from Boxes Filled Lobbyists—Marge Clark, BVM; Mary Ellen our staff members are work- with Darkness Lacy, DC ing together to try to create A young Palestinian girl comes to the United Managing Director—Paul Marchione federal policy that responds States NEP Coordinator—Shannon Hughes NETWORK Associates—Rachael Travis, to the needs around us. highlighting people Ashley Wilson Which brings us to you, 12 Office/Membership Coordinator—Megan To Live and Walk with God Dominy our members! Know how The remarkable Texas ministry of the grateful we are for your per- Rev. Lorenza Andrade Smith Articles in NETWORK Connection may severance and commitment. be reprinted. Please include the follow- On the bus we had a chance spread the word ing on the reprints: “Reprinted by permis- to meet some of you and it 13 Congress Needs to Hear sion of NETWORK, a National Catholic From You! Social Justice Lobby, 25 E Street NW, lifted our spirits. NETWORK Suite 200, Washington, DC 20001, The message is simple, but urgent: We need www.networklobby.org.” Please send us a has clout on the Hill because commonsense immigration reform NOW! copy of the reprinted article. we have all of you around Postcards and tools to turn you into an Third Quarter 2013—Vol. 41, No. 3 the country. It truly is an immigration reform advocate NETWORK Connection ISSN 0199-5723 experience of being the one making a difference Published quarterly by body that St. Paul speaks of 15 “I did not come for a better life; NETWORK in Corinthians. Know that PHONE 202-347-9797 FAX 202-347-9864 I came to save my life.” E-MAIL: [email protected] we here in the office daily Standing with women seeking asylum in the U.S. WEB SITE: www.networklobby.org give thanks for your com- after they have been subjected to torture and POSTMASTER: mitment. Only together can persecution SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: NETWORK • 25 E Street NW, Suite 200 we be faithful to this oppor- Washington, DC 20001 tunity to achieve even a Stay connected with us! Annual dues: $50/$60 international. small portion of our mission. Copyright © 2013 NETWORK. www.facebook.com/NetworkLobby All photos in this issue, including cover, by http://twitter.com/#!/networklobby NETWORK, unless otherwise credited. 2 Connection Third Quarter 2013 www.networklobby.org envisioning NETWORK’s Nuns on the Bus— Meeting Fear and Hope in our Nation BY SIMONE CAMPBELL, SSS There are two stories from the bus that touched, put his papers down and said picio of the Pascua-Yaqui nation told me shout in my memory to be told. They are that he was not going to use his prepared of the horror of living on the reservation Tentwined in motivation but so different text. Rather, he spoke from the heart and and having criminal activity channeled in results. told us that his attitude toward immigra- through their territory, as well as hav- The first occurred on a hot, hot after- tion reform was forever changed the first ing desperate people trying to cross the noon in San Antonio, Texas. There we time he held Nicholas right after he was desert. He told me that he had found had an outdoor press event and rally to born. He told us that he knew in that the body of a woman curled up under speak out yet again for comprehensive moment that he would do whatever he a large desert bush. When they turned immigration reform. Congressman Pete could to protect his son. He would even her huddled body over, they found that Gallego, who had just come in from give his life for his treasure. Many of us she was cradling the body of her infant the airport after a political trip, stood at had tears in our eyes as we listened and child. What immediately struck me was the podium with his prepared text. His knew the deep truth that he was sharing that this nameless woman had the same eight-year-old son Nicholas saw him and as a parent. commitment to her child as Congress- (oblivious to the big crowd) ran up and The second story came a few days man Gallego and most parents every- threw his arms around his father’s waist later on the Pascua-Yaqui reservation where. The only difference is that her to greet him. outside of Tucson, Arizona. There, after quest to protect her child ended in both Congressman Gallego, obviously our “friendraiser,” Chairman Peter Yucu- of their deaths. It is this stark story that is at its heart of what comprehensive immigration reform is about and why we went back on the road to lift up the urgent need to reform our laws. We started on May 28 at St. Rose of Lima Parish in New Haven, Connecticut with an evening of sharing and a bless- ing for those of us on the bus and for the bus itself. I was so touched by the number of Sisters who drove long dis- tances to be a part of the sendoff. Some even drove down from New Hampshire to join us! We learned of the struggles and suc- cesses of the immigrant communities in Connecticut. The mayor and Congress- woman Rosa DeLauro wished us well on our quest. With the rain letting up, we boarded the bus and headed to the Dominican Sisters Convent in Jersey City for the night. We were quite late getting there because of nighttime road construction, but they were waiting up for us and had wine, soft drinks and snacks laid out for us. Wonderful hospi- tality! It was the first night of an incred- ible three-week journey. The next morning at Liberty State Park we arrived to find the park (and Ellis Island) swathed in fog. Of all of the things I had worried about, none includ- ed fog at the beginning. But amazingly, before the end of our opening event the Walking along the border fence with the mayor of Nogales, Arizona sun came out and continued to shine www.networklobby.org Third Quarter 2013 Connection 3 on every one of the approximate- • In Charlotte, North Carolina, a ly 6800 miles we drove! Fifteen realtor told us that the National states later and after 50+ events Association of Hispanic Realtors of “Raise your hands! Raise your did a study that indicated that of voice! For Comprehensive Immi- the estimated 11 million house- gration Reform NOW!!” we have holds with an undocumented indeed made a dent in politics. But person, 3 million are poised to more than that, we have broken buy homes once there is security (yet again) many of our hearts and in their legal position. stirred our commitment to “form a • In Laredo, Texas, we heard from more perfect union.” the mayor, judges, police officers What you will read in the fol- and border patrol agents that we lowing pages is the story of this must have comprehensive reform journey from some of the multitude so that their communities can who put it together. But I wanted work together the way they did to share some perspective from the before the latest divisiveness.