When it comes to discussing the issue of global migration, most Americans speak with certainty of their views as though they had been briefed by the United Nations. Yet what passes as conventional wisdom in the United States often doesn’t…
That time I was suddenly responsible for getting nine migrants through security at DFW Airport
Even though I graduated from both high school and college in New Mexico, my Spanish is pretty bad. But I understood clearly what Pastor Isabel Marquez was telling the 52 migrants gathered in a small room at Oak Lawn United…
With refugee numbers rising worldwide, racism remains a factor in where they’re accepted and how quickly
In its message marking this year’s World Refugee Day June 20, the United Nations came up with a three-word catch phrase it believes should define how refugees are treated globally: “Whoever. Wherever. Whenever.” The subtheme is: “Everyone has the right…
Debates about refugees need a dose of compassion, religious freedom panelists urge
Americans must add compassion to their debates about the world’s 26 million refugees, a Jewish leader said during a Feb. 2 webinar hosted by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. “The need is urgent for us here in the…
A conversation with Lynn Tramonte: Immigrants are our neighbors, and they deserve respect
Lynn Tramonte is both committed and consistent when it comes to advocacy for immigrants. The author, writing coach and nonprofit leader is motivated by her own concern for the plight of the world’s refugees and immigrants. And regardless of who’s…
Could Jesus be coming to us again in the guise of an Afghan child?
You know what I’m grateful for this year as Advent comes? A home. Not just a roof over my head or a house with electricity and running water. I’m thankful for a national home, an imperfect but beloved country, a…
Some African immigrants see their hopes of a better life in the U.S. dashed by new immigration plan
Among the African community, mixed reactions have continued to trail debate in the United States Congress of the Build Back Better bill. The concern is about a lesser-noticed provision about immigration. Reports show that $100 billion is earmarked for immigration…
Global migration isn’t just about the U.S., but the U.S. needs to keep its commitments, U.N. commissioner says
The global migration crisis isn’t just about people trying to come to the United States, the top refugee official from the United Nations said. Yet amid this massive worldwide migration, the U.S. must adhere to its treaty and legal obligations…
‘We may be the asylum seekers of tomorrow’
Natural disasters sparked by worsening global climate change could lead Americans who are hostile toward refugees and migrants to embrace more compassionate attitudes on immigration, an asylum advocate believes. Swapna Reddy, co-founder and co-executive director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy…