ROOT CAUSES POLICY FRAMEWORK

We are grassroots and faith organizations, with the support of faith leaders from Central America, Mexico and the United States, who believe in the fundamental dignity of each person, are conscious of the injustices committed against indigenous peoples and the poor across our region, and work to address the deep causes of poverty, violence, and corruption that force people to flee their homes in the region.

We offer this action framework with the goal of fundamentally changing the economic, migration, human rights and development policies in the region, at the same time that we help all of our families survive this crisis and reconstruct a better, more just and equitable future. 

1. Long-term investment in leadership development by the community

a. Focus U.S. and international agency aid on long-term community development projects designed and directed by local residents that promote education, health and employment and create conditions so that people can see a brighter future in the places where they live.

b. The key priorities include providing all families with daily access to potable water, resolving property deeds, building highways, bridges and other community infrastructures, and creating employment for youth, centered on the most vulnerable populations.

c. Strengthen the primary healthcare system to help the communities respond to COVID and other public health challenges.

d. Appoint leaders and personnel from USAID and other development agencies that have direct experience with community-led development in Central America and that are committed to community empowerment.

2. WORK. Focus on good jobs and career paths

a. The U.S. should reject an economic approach that historically has been based on the extraction of resources and low-wage employment.

b. Regional and U.S. economic and trade policies should prioritize the improvement of education, raising wages, increasing benefits and protecting workers’ rights, including the right to organize.

c. A key focus to address the fundamental causes of migration should be the creation of employment positions and apprenticeships that permit young people to advance in their careers.

3. DEMOCRACY. Stand with civic, indigenous and faith organizations that are fighting for democracy.

a. The U.S. and all governments in the region should unequivocally place themselves on the side of civic, indigenous, women’s, faith, student, worker, and other types of organizations and political leaders that fight for democracy and against impunity, corruption, and human rights abuses.

b. The U.S. President and Congress should recommit loudly and clearly unequivocal support for anti-corruption institutions and efforts, and free and fair elections in Central America and Mexico.

c. Anti-corruption efforts must address the fundamental inequalities regarding access to economic resources and political power, recognizing that corruption is rooted in the highest levels of society, and that U.S. political and commercial interests have been complicit in abuse that impoverishes ordinary people.

4. HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY

a. It is necessary to eradicate corruption from the military and police and to cut their ties with criminal enterprises, so that ordinary people can trust that they are protected by agencies responsible for the public safety.

b. Programs to reduce violence should focus on civilian initiatives developed by local communities, and should be directed to the underlying causes of the violence, including the elimination of obstacles for the reentry of people returning to their communities after prison.

c. We must provide greater support for local programs to eradicate violence against children and women, who are the ones most subjected to abuse. This requires urgent attention from national and international agencies responsible for preventing gender-based violence and abuse.

5. ENVIRONMENT. Protect the environment from extraction and help the most vulnerable adapt to climate change.

a. The U.S. and the regional governments should stand with the community, indigenous, and faith organizations that organize against mining, big megaprojects, and other extractive activities practiced by multinational companies, which threaten the water, ecosystems, and health of families and communities.

b. A regional effort is needed to help the small farmers and local communities control their land, meet their nutritional needs, and adapt to climate change, especially indigenous communities, and to provide food security for those who run the greatest risk of going hungry.

6. DEMILITARIZATION. Stop militarizing the borders and criminalizing the migrants.

a. Reconstruct a regional asylum system that adjusts to international law.

b. We ask for the immediate cancellation of the “Stay in Mexico” Program or ‘Migrant Protection Protocols’ and the so-called Safe Third Country Agreements, so that the asylum seekers are able to stay in the U.S.

c. Cancellation of the so-called Asylum Cooperative Agreements

d. Review the agreements between the countries so that the protection of the migrants and sustainable development are the main priorities.

7.   LEGAL PATHWAYS. Expand legal means for a safe migration, to reunite with family and for work.

a. Change the narrative regarding migration and those who migrate from Central America.

b. U.S. policies should create legal pathways for people from Central America to migrate safely.

c. Include more opportunities for people to migrate to the U.S. to reunite with family members and unaccompanied children.

d. Expand the number of work visas to create opportunities for migrants to work in the U.S.

e. Increase the number of refugees accepted by the U.S. from Central America.

f. Legalize migrants in irregular status who have been essential workers during the pandemic.

 

Faith Leaders

Faith Leaders (Líderes Religiosos) 

Bishop Mark Seitz, Diocese of El Paso

Cardinal Álvaro Ramazzini Imeri, Diocese of Huehuetenango

Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archdiocese of Newark

Archbishop John Wester, Archdiocese of Santa Fe

Archbishop Charles Thompson, Archdiocese of Indianapolis

Bishop Elías Bolaños Avelar, Diocese of Zacatecoluca

Bishop Rodolfo Valenzuela Núñez, Diocese of Verapaz

Bishop José Raúl Vera López, Diocese of Saltillo

Bishop Robert McElroy, Diocese of San Diego

Bishop Edward Weisenburger, Diocese of Tucson

Bishop John Stowe, Diocese of Lexington

Bishop Fernand Cheri, Archdiocese of New Orleans

Obispo Silvestre Romero, Iglesia Episcopal de Guatemala

The Right Rev. Jennifer Reddall, Episcopal Diocese of Arizona

Rev. David Ulloa Chavez, Episcopal Diocese of Arizona

The Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego

The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

Bishop Diane M. Jardine Bruce, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

The Rt. Rev. David C. Rice, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California

The Rt. Rev Greg Rickel, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia

Rev. Alvin Herring, Executive Director, Faith in Action

Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, President, Sojourners

 

Steering Committee (Comité Directivo)

Faith in Action

Hope Border Institute

Comunidades de Fe Organizadas en Acción (COFOA)

Congregation Action Network

JPIC Familia Franciscana de Guatemala

Justicia, Paz y Integridad de Creación (JPIC)/Honduras

La 72, Hogar – Refugio para Personas Migrantes

New Mexico CAFé

Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña (OFRANEH)

Dr. Irma A. Velasquez Nimatuj, Profesora Invitada, Universidad de Stanford

 

Organizations (Organizaciones)

Abara

Absolam Jones Center for Racial Healing

Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States

Adorers of the Blood of Christ, US Region

Albuquerque Mennonite Church

Albergue Decanal Guadalupano para migrantes 

American Friends Service Committee

Amerindia Mexico

Asociación La Alianza

Assumption Sisters Chaparral

Asylee Coordination Team (ACT)

BELOVED San Diego (Beloved Christian Church, Disciples of Christ)

Benedictine sisters of erie

Border Perspective

Bread for the World

Camino Alliance

Caritas de Honduras

Carmelite Sisters, VEDRUNA

Casa Monarca. Ayuda Humanitaria al Migrante

Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe

Catholic Charities of Oregon

Catholic Coalition for Migrant Justice

Chicago Chapter of Benedictines for Peace

Christ Crossman UMC, Falls Church, VA

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Christian Peacemaker Teams

Christians for Social Action/ESA

Coalición Pro Defensa del Migrante, A.C.

Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach

Comisión de Justicia, paz e integridad de la creación, OFM /Honduras

Comunidades Eclesiales de Base

Community Council, Servants of Mary, US/Jamaica Community

comunidad indigena Maya Ixil

Conferencia Episcopal de Guatemala

Confraternidad de periodistas y escritores

Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes

Congregation of our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces

Coordinador de la Confraternidad de Abogados Vicentinos

Coracle

Corazón Arizona (Federation of Faith in Action)

Crossing Borders – Dubuque

Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul USA

Dawn’s Place

Dimensión Episcopal de Pastoral de Movilidad Humana de México

Disciples of Christ

Dominican Sisters – Grand Rapids

Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, NY

Dominican Sisters of Hope

Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose

Dominican Sisters of Peace

Dominican Sisters of San Rafael

Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa

Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, NY

Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois

Dreams Project

Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real

Episcopal Peace Fellowship

Erie Benedictines for Peace

Faith in Action International

Faith in Indiana

Faith in New Jersey

Faith in New York

First Congregational United Church of Christ, Albuquerque, NM

Franciscan Action Network

Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn

Franciscan Federation of Srs and Bros of TOR -USA

Franciscan Peace Center

Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, Minnesota

Franciscans for Justice

Freedom Road, LLC

Granite State Organizing Project

Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart

Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Carlsbad, CA

Holy Cross Parish, Philadelphia, PA

Homeboy Industries

Hope Border Institute

Hospitalidad y Solidaridad

Iglesia Episcopal Anglicana de El Salvador

Iglesia mission Dolores. Y de voluntario en LA Voice

Ignatian Solidarity Network / La Red de Solidaridad Ignaciana

IHM Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee, Sisters of IHM

IHM Sisters

IKAR

Imdosoc

Immigrant Connection / Zach Szmara, National Director

Immigrant Connection at May Ave. Wesleyan Church

Immigration Task Force of the Diocese of San Joaquin

InnerCHANGE

InnerChange, Guatemala

Instituto de Enseñanza para el Desarrollo Sostenible IEPADES

Instituto de Investigación y Proyección sobre Dinámicas Globales y Territoriales de la Universidad Rafael Landívar

Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center

Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA

jpic franciscanos conventuales/parroquia San Maximiliano Kolbe

JPIC Confregua

JPIC El Salvador

JPIC Familia Franciscana de Honduras

JPIC-CONFERENCIA DE RELIGIOSOS DE HONDURAS (CONFEREH)

Justice, Peace, & Integrity of Creation Committee, Dominican Sisters, Springfield, IL

Kino Border Initiative

LA RED

LA Voice

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Leadership Council of the IHM Sisters of Monroe, Michigan

Leadership of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary of the Woods, IN

Loretto Latin America/Caribbean Committee

LUCHA Ministries, Inc.

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Matthew 25/Mateo 25

Medical Missionaries of Mary

Medical Mission Sisters and Women’s Circle, Inc.

Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Natl Immigration Program

Misioneros Claretianos Centroamérica

Missio Alliance

Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence

Misión vida nueva

Mothers & Others Justice and Mercy for Immigrants

National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice

NETworX

NM CAFe

New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light

Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, Society of the Sacred Heart, United States and Canada

Oficina de Tutela Legal del Arzobispado de San Salvador

OPODNE

Partners in Community International

Paso de Esperanza A.C.

Pastoral de Movilidad Humana

Pastoral de la Movilidad Humana (PMH)

Pax Christi USA

Peace and Justice Team of the Congregation of Saint Joseph

PICO California

Presentation Lantern Center

Presentation Sisters San Francisco, CA

Proclade Guatemala

Promise Arizona

Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order

1. Apostólicas del Corazón de Jesús

Rede Um Grito pela Vida

Red Franciscana Para Migrantes -Honduras

Red Franciscana para Migrantes, Franciscan Network on Migration

Red Jesuita con Migrantes de Guatemala

Red Rahamim

RED RAMA

Red de Religiosas contra la trata de personas

Red Jesuita con Migrantes Centro América-Norteamérica (RJM-CANA)

Red Jesuita con Migrantes Guatemala

Red Jesuita con Migrantes Latino América y el Caribe 

Refugio

Religiosas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús

Religious of Jesus and Mary

Religious of the Assumption

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Western American Area

Religious Sisters of Charity

Rio Grande Borderland Ministries – Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande

Rochester, Minnesota Franciscan Community

Salvatorian Advocacy for Victims of Exploitation (S.A.V.E.) Inc

San Francisco Friends Meeting

San Antonio Region Justice For Our Neighbors

Scalabrinianas Misión con Migrantes y Refugiados (SMR)

Schlegel Center for Service and Justice at Creighton University

School Sisters of Notre Dame

School Sisters of Notre Dame Atlantic Midwest Province JPIC Officet Provinc

School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province

School Sisters of St Francis US Province

Sector Interreligioso Centinelas por la Dignificación del Estado (Guatemala)

Servant Partners / Iglesia la luz en el barrio

Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary

Sisters of Bon Secours, USA

Sisters of Charity, BVM

Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Congregational Leadership

Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Western Province Leadership

Sisters of Charity of New York

Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston, TX

Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word/San Antonio

Sisters of IHM/Scranton, PA Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Committee

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Immigration Advocacy Group

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team

Sisters of Mercy Solidarity Committee

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur EW Unit

Sisters of St. Agnes

Sisters of St Dominic of Blauvelt, NY

Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa

Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, IN

Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee

Sisters of St. Francis of Rochester, MN

Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities

Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God

Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania OH

Sisters of St. Joseph

Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood NY Office of Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Albany Province Justice Committee

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, LA Province

Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA

Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern PA

Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny

Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny USA/Canada

Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange

Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield

Sisters of St. Joseph TOSF

Sisters of St. Joseph-TOSF Social Justice Committee

Sisters of St. Joseph Welcome Center

Sisters of the Holy Cross

Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary

Sisters of the Holy Names, US-Ontario Province

Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate

Sisters of the Most Precious Blood

Sisters of the Presentation

Sojourners

Solidarity – Camino Immigration

St. Ann Catholic Church, Deming, NM

St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Poway, CA

St. Francis Xavier Church, Phoenix, AZ

St. Helena Outreach Ministries, Philadelphia, PA

St. Martin de Porres School, Philadelphia PA

St. Mary’s (Mariposa) Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, CA

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church/Iglesia Episcopal San Mateo, Hyattsville, MD

St. Paul’s Cathedral (Episcopal), San Diego, CA

St. Paul’s Monastery, St. Paul, MN

St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal, Immigration Ministry, Albuquerque

Stop Slavery, A Northern California Coalition of Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking

The Global Immersion Project

The Third Order Society of St. Francis, Province of the Americas

T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

United Methodist General Board of Church and Society

University Christian Church of San Diego

Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (USA Unit)

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking

Vista La Mesa Christian Church, La Mesa, CA

Witness at the Border

 

Clergy and Individuals (Clérigos y Individuos)

Ismael Moreno, SJ. Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación ERIC-SJ.

Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ, Kino Border Initiative

Sr. Ann Scholz, SSND

Deacon Nate Bacon, Central America Regional Director, InnerChange

Padre Balmore de Jesús Pedraza, Tutela de Derechos Humanos del Arzobispado de San Salvador

Conrado Zepeda, SJ

Sister Janet Lander

Sister Ruth Battaglia CSA

Mary Beth Hamm, SSJ

Sister Annette Grisley

Sister Rosalie Carvenl, CSJ

Sister Colleen Dauerbach, SSJ

Sister Betty McVeigh, SSJ

Sr. Kathy Claflin, SSJ

Hna. Mercedes López Ramos, Religiosa de la Sagrada Familia de Helmet

Sr. Carmella Campione

Sister Sally Duffy, SC, board member of Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

Patricia Sheehan, Sister of IHM Scranton Associate, Justice & Peace Committee

Suzanne M. Susany OSF, Esq

Rev. Laura Byrch

Sr. Maryann Mueller, CSSF

Sister Jocelyn Quijano, PBVM

Veronique Wiedower CSC

Sister Patricia Pora, RSM

Sister Marlys Jax

Greg Bonfiglio, S.J.

Pam Stout OFS

Nancy McCarthy

Dr. Robert Chao Romero

The Rev. Cn. Anna Carmichael, Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin

Viviana Coria-Tsapos

Brian McLauchlin

Rev. Dr. Simon Mainwaring

The Rev. Margaret Decker, Trinity Episcopal, Escondido, CA

The Rev Canon Jeff Martinhauk

Rev. Canon Abbott Bailey

Erica Shepler Romero, J4R/Matthew 25 So Cal

Malinda Shamburger

Rev. Janna Louie

Sr. Mary Ann Azanza, R.A.

Rev. Ramon Pons

Sister Carol L. Ries, SNJM

Lyn Kirkconnell, Justice Co-Promoter for Dominican Sisters of San Rafael and Mission San Jose

Sister Judy Lu McDonnell, O.P., Justice Co-Promoter for Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose and of San Rafael

Rev. Robert Bossie, SCJ

Sr. Maria Isabel Galbe

Paul Nix – InnerCHANGE US Director

Rev. VeAnn Clark / Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. Cheri Metier, Interfaith Worker Justice of San Diego County

Rev. Jason A. Coker

Rev. Dr. Marianna Kirwan

Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon

Rev. Xose G. Escamilla, Disciples of Christ

Rev. Dr. Nancy Fowler, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

The Rev. Carlos Garcia, Latino Missioner, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego

The Rev. D. Rebecca Dinovo, St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church

Colin Mathewson, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, San Diego

Pastor RJ Lucchesi

Rev. Lyle Predmore, retired

Rev. Dr. Markus Watson, Westmorland Community Presbyterian Church

Nathan Byrd, Christ United Presbyterian Church

Rev. Demetries Edwards, Twenty-third Avenue Church of God  

Max Finberg, Minister, Third Street Church of God Washington, DC

Dr. Neomi De Anda

Lawrence Couch, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

Sister Stephanie Spandl, SSND

Tiffany Hunsinger