Refugees

Washington, DC – As organizations and individuals who believe in the dignity of all people, the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) welcomes the sea-change on immigration policy that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are ushering in.  “Much love to all the immigrants, organizers, grassroots advocates, and lawyers who stood up to the callous and ...

IIC Immigration Policy Priorities The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) is composed of over 55 international and national faith-based organizations, united in a commitment to fair and humane immigration policies that reflect our call to welcome the stranger and protect human dignity. Coalition members and grassroots networks serve migrants abroad, at the U.S./Mexico border, and throughout the ...

IIC Priorities for Biden-Harris Administration Washington, DC – The Torah, the Christian Bible, the Qur’an, and the Hindu Taitiriya Upanishad are all clear: welcoming the “wayfarer” and recognizing every individuals’ God-given humanity are values to defend and extend.  The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) released “The Interfaith Framework for Welcoming and Supporting Migrants, Immigrants, Asylum Seekers, and Refugees,” ...

The Interfaith Immigration Coalition offers these recommendations for initial steps for the Biden-Harris administration to take in reforming executive branch immigration policies; decolonizing the U.S. role abroad; and passing immigration laws in Congress. Read the complete document, “Interfaith Framework for Welcoming and Supporting Migrants, Immigrants, Asylum Seekers, and Refugees,” here.  Bring accountability, compassion, fairness, and morality ...

Washington, DC – Following is a statement from Elissa Diaz, Policy Associate for Church World Service and Chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition. Today we celebrate the opportunity to turn a page, as a country, and move toward healing. When it comes to federal immigration policy, the past four years have been dark, driven by xenophobia. The ...

Diaz: FY 21 Refugee Goal “Historic low for U.S. and Trump administration” Washington, DC – When it comes to deciding how many refugees can start their lives anew in the United States this fiscal year, the Trump administration is a month late and 80,000 short of the historic average goal of 95,000 people. The administration is ...

Rapid Response Actions to Proposed Lowest Refugee Admissions Goal in U.S. History Please share the short link: http://bit.ly/RefugeePD2021  Moral Imperative to Take Action to Decry Dismantling of Refugee Resettlement Program Background: The administration has proposed a Presidential Determination (PD) of a new all-time historic low of 15,000 for Fiscal Year 2021. Since taking office, the administration has sought ...

Washington, DC – On September 30, the last day of National African Immigrant Heritage Month, hundreds of people joined a Zoom meeting to learn about the journey many Black Africans make to the U.S. to escape persecution–and the journey some are forced to make back via deportation.  A recording is available here. Sylvie Bello of the ...

Faith Community Outraged by the Administration’s Devastation of the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program Diaz: “Trump administration is playing the role of persecutor, not protector” Washington, DC – The Trump administration is proposing another historic low refugee admissions goal of 15,000 for FY 2021, according to the administration’s report to Congress. The administration violated U.S. law by not ...

Washington, DC – Ahmad Javed Momand was a doctor in Afghanistan. Now, he works as a lab tech, processing test results and taking employees’ temperatures at a U.S. health care facility. Both of his jobs are vital and important. But only one requires the time and skills involved in completing a PhD in medicine.  Dr. Momand’s ...