Refugees and Asylum Seekers
The United States has a longstanding tradition of welcoming individuals from around the world who are seeking protection and refuge. But recent U.S. policy has grown increasingly hostile toward asylum seekers and refugees. Instead of turning vulnerable individuals away, the United States should maintain its global reputation as a leader in refugee resettlement and humanitarian protection. Doing so not only upholds American values but sustains and strengthens our communities. Data from the Council shows that refugees and asylees make tremendous contributions to our economy as earners, taxpayers, and consumers. Learn more about the contributions and challenges of asylum seekers and refugees below.
Refugees in the U.S. Had More Than $56 Billion in Spending Power in 2015, New Study Shows
NEW YORK, New York – Refugees earned more than $77 billion in household income and paid almost $21 billion in taxes in 2015, according to a new study released by New American Economy. The new report is one of the few comprehensive analyses of how refugees contribute to… Read More
The Knoxville Mercury (TN): In Knoxville, World Refugee Day is so big it lasts a week
“Y’all means all” is the motto for Knoxville’s upcoming World Refugee Day and a week of films, games, and other opportunities to interact with local refugees. The festivities were planned by Bridge Refugee Services to celebrate the contributions of immigrants who fled persecution in foreign countries to resettle in Knoxville The… Read More
Innovative Pastor Helps Refugees Help the U.S. Economy
This year, former pastor Leah Lonsbury opened Just Bakery, an Atlanta nonprofit that provides job training, food service certification, and a living wage for resettled refugees. Lonsbury isn’t the first to turn to baking to make change. She used to live in Madison, Wisconsin, where a good friend runs… Read More
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Continues to Inhibit Asylum Seekers’ Legal Access and Invite Litigation
Since the reintroduction of family detention under the Obama administration, abuse of the mothers and children held in these facilities has run rampant. The family detention scheme has grown increasingly controversial not only because it has failed to provide safe and humane conditions for mothers and children, but also… Read More
Lawsuit Challenges Government’s Interference with Legal Representation of Mothers and Children Detained in Dilley, Texas
Access to legal counsel is a core American value and is the cornerstone of our justice system. Yet, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has severely limited access to legal assistance for asylum-seeking women and children held in family detention facilities. Read More
Challenging ICE Interference with Legal Representation at Dilley
This case stems from Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) decision to bar Caroline Perris, a full-time legal assistant with the Dilley Pro Bono Project (DPBP), from entering the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. Read More
Chicago Writer Examines Her — and Her Country’s — Refugee Experience
Writer Megy Karydes says people are surprised when she tells them she was a refugee. “I look American,” she says. “It’s not as if we wear a T-shirt announcing it.” Although Karydes was born in the United States, her parents, who were Greek citizens, had returned to their home… Read More
In America, Rwandan Refugee Gains a Voice and Creates Jobs
From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Rubens Mukunzi runs a Buffalo-based newspaper, where he writes, edits, and meets with advertisers. After a one-hour break for dinner, the Rwandan refugee starts his shift at a cleaning company, where he works until midnight. The hours are long, but Mukunzi… Read More
The Perils of Expedited Removal
Detained asylum seekers encounter numerous challenges, including the following problems detailed in this report. Read More
One Refugee Couple, Dozens of Entrepreneurial Stories
Nadia Kasvin came to the United States under the terms of the Lautenberg Amendment, a 1989 policy that allowed Jews and other religious minorities facing persecution in the former Soviet Union to seek asylum in America. Three years after applying, and after numerous background checks and interviews, Kasvin and her… Read More
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