Refugees

Washington, DC – People of faith are shocked and horrified by the Biden administration’s escalation of Haitian deportations and expulsions and the inhumane treatment of Haitians by Border Patrol officers at the U.S. southern border. The egregious actions of U.S. Border Patrol officers towards Haitian asylum-seekers reflect our nation’s long history of a broken immigration ...

WASHINGTON, DC – Out of a deep concern for the people of Afghanistan, 219 faith leaders and 88 faith organizations signed a letter to the president urging him to provide a robust humanitarian response to the crisis in Afghanistan and to expand opportunities for Afghans to seek refuge in the United States. The administration must take ...

WASHINGTON, DC – Faith groups from across the United States express their grief about the devastation, fear, and uncertainty that Haitian and Afghan people are feeling, and call on the Biden administration to use the significant power of the U.S. government to protect human life. Compelled by their faith traditions’ call to speak up for and ...

Congress has an historic opportunity to pass citizenship for immigrants through the congressional budget reconciliation process this year. On August 11, we celebrated an important step that the Senate passed a budget resolution that includes a path to citizenship. We must keep up the momentum! While Congress is in recess and into September, faith communities ...

WASHINGTON, DC –  Asylum seekers, human rights groups, and faith leaders rallied and held vigil in front of the White House yesterday to demand an end to “Title 42 expulsions,” a Trump-era policy used to block asylum seekers under the guise of public health. They highlighted the United States’ responsibility to refugees and asylum seekers ...

WASHINGTON, DC – In a CNN town hall last night, President Biden was asked to speak to his administration’s stance on immigration, recalling when Vice President Kamala Harris told migrants, “do not come,” in a speech last month in Guatemala. “They should not come,” Biden responded, going on to describe his administration’s intention to set ...

Washington, DC – Leaders of faith-based organizations that resettle refugees and advocate for a stronger U.S. commitment to refugee protection honor their courage and tenacity on World Refugee Day, June 20, and every day. Joan Rosenhauer, Executive Director, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA said: “On World Refugee Day, we celebrate the talent, strength, and resilience of our refugee ...

“Each of us is a cherished beloved of God — let us craft immigration policy that remembers that” Guatemala City – “Do not come. Do not come. The United States will continue to enforce our laws and secure our border.” Those were the words Vice President Kamala Harris spoke, and wanted the world to hear, in ...

Washington, DC – It feels good to do the right thing. Today, months after promising to increase the record-low refugee resettlement cap set by the prior, anti-immigrant and anti-refugee administration, President Biden followed through on his promise. In addition to setting the goal to 62,500 for Fiscal Year 2021, he committed to setting an even larger ...

Washington, DC – Repeal and strengthen, heal and transform. “This is the path to a new paradigm for U.S. immigration policy, one that centers human dignity rather than repression, coercion, and control,” said Peniel Ibe, Policy Engagement Coordinated with the American Friends Service Committee and Co-Director of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.  “This requires boldness. It requires ...