At the close of the fiscal year in September, the U.S. had resettled only 11,411 refugees. That’s the lowest number in the history of our refugee resettlement program. Here’s how we got here. When a refugee enters the resettlement system, they’re starting a lengthy process with five distinct steps. First, they must be…
Afghan refugees are being screened safely, security experts assure governors
National security experts have urged American governors to disregard conservative news reports denigrating the vetting process for Afghan allies resettling in the United States. Instead, they asked governors to trust screening procedures for arrivals and to welcome the evacuees into…
Refugee agencies praise Biden’s increase in admissions cap but call for greater infrastructure to make the goal possible
Refugee agencies praised the Biden administration’s decision to hike the refugee resettlement cap to 125,000 from 62,500 beginning in October, but added the higher allowance will do little good without assistance in rapidly rebuilding capacity lost during the Trump presidency….
Here’s one simple reason to support refugee resettlement
When I talk to people about why I — a pastor at my church — believe refugees should be welcomed in our country, my rationale is simple: Jesus was a refugee. One would think that message would resonate with others…
Refugee resettlement expected to rebound, but the pipeline is broken
Repairing the global damage done by the Trump administration to refugee resettlement work will take time but will happen, according a panel of evangelical Christians deeply involved in such work. The Jan. 27 press briefing was convened by the National…
Biden plans to restore refugee admissions, but rebuilding the system will take time
President-elect Joe Biden has announced he intends to raise the nation’s refugee cap by more than 100,000 after years of plunging totals under the Trump administration. But officials with domestic agencies and the ministries that help resettle and support refugees…
The true story of two immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. and the pastor who’s helping them
Michael Wangai (not his real name) has been in U.S. immigration “detention” since August 2019. The only crime he has committed is seeking political asylum in the United States with a certainty that if he returns to his home country…
Faith-based groups unite to denounce Trump’s further gutting of legal refugee resettlement
An array of American faith-based organizations roundly condemned President Trump’s Sept. 30 decision to limit refugee resettlement in 2021 to no more than 15,000. That would be the lowest level on record, following a year that already brough an 80%…
Refugee ministries adapt amid COVID and government slowdown
The ministry of welcoming immigrants and refugees has not ground to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic, but it has changed shape. “Our work hasn’t slowed down at all, even though the government is working to slow down new refugee…