Refugee Status

Second “Muslim Ban” Meets Renewed Litigation
In the week following President Trump’s issuance of a second travel ban targeting six Muslim-majority countries, several states and a number of immigrant rights groups immediately returned to federal courts throughout the country to urge that this ban, like the first, be enjoined. Trump’s initial Muslim travel ban, an… Read More

President Trump to Replace Travel Ban Executive Order
President Trump re-issued his immigration executive order on Monday that halts all refugee admissions for at least 120 days and bans entry into the United States for nationals of six Muslim-majority countries. Those targeted by the previous version of the executive order are largely unchanged, except that Iraq was removed… Read More

Statement on Executive Order on Refugees and Muslim Admissions
These actions will isolate America and make us all party to blatant and bigoted religious targeting. These actions also ignore the multi-layered processes the government already uses to screen and vet those seeking entry to the U.S., whether as a refugee, on a tourist visa, or another visa permitting entry. Read More

El Salvador’s Gang Violence is Forcing Thousands to Flee
In the event that there was any doubt, women and children from Central America’s Northern Triangle—El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—are fleeing the same horrific conditions that were driving them out of their countries in large numbers two years ago. That is why apprehensions of Northern Triangle refugees have gone… Read More

Using Job and Educational Opportunities to Resettle Refugees
The UNHCR estimates that worldwide there were over 65 million refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced people who fled conflict, violence, and human rights violations in 2015. On average 24 people were displaced from their homes every minute of every day during 2015. Although there are now a record number… Read More

Conservative Governors Defy Tradition and Abdicate Responsibility for Resettling Refugees
The United States plays an important role in protecting thousands of the world’s most vulnerable people and is one of 33 countries that resettles refugees. Our long-held legal and moral obligations to shelter those fleeing insecurity and persecution demand nothing less than a robust refugee resettlement by the United… Read More

Government Officials Explain Extensive Refugee Vetting Process in Hearing
Following the 15th anniversary of the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001, Congress is renewing its efforts to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again on U.S. soil. This was the message many members conveyed at a House Homeland Security hearing yesterday examining “terrorist pathways” to the… Read More

Why 22 Mothers Are On a Hunger Strike at the Berks Family Detention Facility
In protest of their families’ ongoing and prolonged detention in the Berks County Residential Center, a group of mothers began a hunger strike on Monday, August 8. They penned a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson explaining why: We left our homes in Central America… Read More

Meet the First Ever Olympic Refugee Team
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are approximately 65 million refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide. Among them are world class athletes who dream of competing in the Olympics, but have been displaced from their homes and had their training disrupted. Many are unable to… Read More

Eight of Twelve Families Targeted by ICE Have Been Released
Washington D.C. – After being held in detention for more than a month by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), eight of the families rounded up by ICE at the beginning of January have finally been released from detention while their cases proceed. The CARA… Read More
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