International
JSRI’s work with transnational immigrants is the primary area of its international work at this time including its active collaboration with the College of Law of Loyola University New Orleans in its immigration law clinic and the representation of persons in the U.S. detention centers.
JSRI Submits Articles to UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights
In response to a request for input, on January 30, 2012 JSRI submitted two JustSouth Quarterly articles on detention to the U.N. Special Rapporteur for Human Rights. The Special Rapporteur is preparing a report on the detention of migrants in irregular situations. The JustSouth Quarterly articles had to do with best practices in alternatives to detention (Spring 2011) and reasons for detention (Fall 2011).
Shareholder Investor Responsibility
One new approach to this work is in the area of social responsible investor advocacy:
On May 12 Mary Baudouin, and Dr. Sue Weishar attended the annual meeting of the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) in Nashville to speak to the board, staff and shareholders of the need for CCA to adopt a verifiable human rights policy and adopt stricter accountability and reporting measures. CCA is the largest private prison company in the United States. In FY 2010 CCA facilities under contract with ICE held 21.2% of immigrants detained in the U.S. The New Orleans Province is working with a cadre of faith-based investors who filed a shareholder resolution with CCA in November 2010 this resolution was withdrawn when CCA agreed to hold at least three dialogues in the coming year regarding risk assessments and transparent reporting about human rights abuses at CCA facilities. On May 12 Mary and Sue also discussed the terms of the upcoming meetings with CCA officials. In December, 2011, Baudouin and Weishar and other religious investors met with senior management of CCA to continue the formal dialogue, which will continue over the coming months.
2012 and earlier advocacy activities can be seen on the Past Activities page.
Related links
For background on issues affecting Latin America and the Caribbean region, see the following:
- Acción Social de los Jesuitas en México
- Cuban Affairs (Quarterly Electronic Journal)
- Global Ignatian Advocacy Network
- Institute for Latin American Concern (Creighton University)
- Institute for Latino Studies (University of Notre Dame)
- Latin American and Caribbean Center (Florida International University)
- Latin American Network Information Center (University of Texas at Austin)
- Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (University of Texas at Austin)
- The Consortium in Latin American & Caribbean Studies ( University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University)