The SNL Circle of Support at Christ the King Parish in Detroit has opened a house on its grounds to shelter people seeking asylum and/or humanitarian protection.

The project got a major boost from Paul Propson, Director of Catholic Charities SE Michigan (CCSEM). CCSEM was looking to expand its work with families seeking asylum in SE Michigan and was very interested in working with Christ the King's parishioners. Strangers No Longer will be the official renter of the house from the parish, and CCSEM will contribute to the expenses. This is a great partnership in the making -- SNL, CCSEM, and Christ the King parish! 

To get the house ready for guests, parishioners of Christ the King washed windows and floors, moved in furniture, organized rooms, brought household items, and worked very hard to make Bakhita House hospitable for families.

The search is on for a resident advisor to manage the house--someone who would be available to the families, be able to keep track of finances, and be a positive, compassionate presence. Free rent and WiFi plus a $200 stipend are offered. A job description is available from Linda Tomala at linda.tomala@gmail.com.

The guest speaker will be Sr. Donna Markham, the first woman to lead the U.S. domestic humanitarian work of the Catholic Church and recently retired as the 10th president of Catholic Charities USA. (Click here for more info about her.)

One of SNL’s major goals this year has been to work for passage of the Drive Safe bills which will allow residents of Michigan to obtain a driver’s license or state ID without regard to immigration status.

After the summer recess of our state legislature, our advocacy efforts will pick back up in September. Our current focus is to meet with legislators who are undecided including Rep. Nate Shannon (Sterling Heights, Warren) and Rep. Tullio Liberati (Lincoln Park) and Sen. Kristen McDonald-Rivet (Saginaw, Midland.) We are also looking for endorsements from law enforcement throughout Michigan.

Click here to register for the meeting.

Click here for our Advocacy Package, including the supporting views of the Secretary of State and Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney, Eli Savit.

Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan (CCSEM) has selected Strangers No Longer to receive their Outstanding Organization Award! CCSEM provides support for those caring for people enduring a range of personal and family challenges, and for those new to our country.

For more information and to register, click here.

National Catholic Reporter reports that some Republican lawmakers in Washington are threatening funding for Catholic Charities and others who offer aid to immigrants at the Southern border. They complained that non-governmental organizations were being allowed to "aid and abet illegal aliens."

Lee Williams, chief programs officer for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, called the lawmakers’ allegations "preposterous" and "dangerous."

The Methodist Children's Home Society (MCHS) Long-Term Foster Care Program is intended for Unaccompanied Children (UCs) who arrive in the United States without parents, guardians, or adult figures.

The goal of the LTFC Program is to reunite the UCs with their parents, family members, and/or sponsors. But while they wait to rejoin their families, they need a foster parent or parents who are willing to provide them with a home and enroll them in school, activities, healthcare, etc.

If you or someone you know might be interested in fostering a UC, contact Pilar Barreto at pbarreto@mchsmi.org or 787-565-3034.

MIRC urges state legislators to seize the opportunity to dramatically increase inclusion and access for Michigan’s immigrant populations in these areas:

“For far too long, our immigrant siblings have waited for Congress to pass legislation that affirms their dignity by providing them access to citizenship and services. The efforts of successive administrations and Congress have eroded long-standing protections of immigrants in the U.S. This has been particularly harmful to Black, Brown, and Indigenous immigrants. In recent years, U.S. Federal budgets have cut programs that support the dignity of immigrants.”

Read the entire letter and sign on here.