Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Faith leaders and religious groups voice opposition to Biden’s plan to restrict asylum
By Alejandra Molina — March 29, 2023
(RNS) — The new rules mirror restrictions set forth by the Trump administration that were eventually blocked in court by migrant activist groups.
Faith-based organizations urge Biden not to enact ‘asylum ban’
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 23, 2023
(RNS) — The proposed policy 'borders on a wealth test for some of the most vulnerable children and families,' said one advocate.
With the Afghan Adjustment Act on life support, refugee agencies pray for a miracle
By Yonat Shimron — December 20, 2022
(RNS) — Unless a floor amendment gains traction in Congress, some 76,000 Afghans who were airlifted out of Afghanistan before the U.S. withdrawal may lose their legal status in 2023.
The climate crisis is increasingly a refugee crisis, faith resettlement groups say
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 22, 2022
(RNS) — For more than 80 years, LIRS has helped resettle refugees — increasingly those refugees have been displaced due to climate disasters.
Biden’s Uniting for Ukraine program is a start, faith-based refugee agencies say
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 21, 2022
(RNS) — The program, which the president announced Thursday (April 21), streamlines the process to provide Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion of their country with opportunities to come to the United States.
Ukrainian communities in US prepare to support refugees
By Kathleen Ronayne — April 1, 2022
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — 'No refugee is waiting for you to be ready for them,' said Eduard Kislyanka, senior pastor at the House of Bread church.
Polish Catholic community houses Ukrainian refugees as US agencies urge action
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 23, 2022
(RNS) — Agency leaders are applauding news the U.S. is expected to welcome up to 10,000 Ukrainians.
‘Pray for Ukraine’: Religious leaders call for peace and God’s protection
By Bob Smietana — February 24, 2022
(RNS) — In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, religious leaders prayed for peace and asked God to watch over civilians.
This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for refugee resettlement in this country
By Mark Hetfield, Richard L. Santos, and Krish O’Mara Vignarajah — December 9, 2021
(RNS) — Refugee resettlement has always been a public-private partnership, relying on the generosity of American communities who come together and welcome newcomers.
Faith-based agencies celebrate ‘return to moral leadership’ as Biden raises refugee ceiling to 125,000
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 21, 2021
(RNS) — Even as they praised the higher refugee ceiling, the groups also asked Congress to commit to rebuilding and fully funding the U.S. refugee resettlement program so it could reach that number.
Former US presidents, religious leaders launch organization to aid Afghan evacuees
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 14, 2021
(RNS) — Welcome.US provides a single point of entry for Americans to donate to frontline organizations, host arriving families through Airbnb and find other ways to help Afghans as they rebuild their lives in the United States after fleeing the Taliban.
How to help Afghans arriving in the US after fleeing the Taliban
By Emily McFarlan Miller — August 25, 2021
(RNS) — Here are a few of the faith-based organizations working with Afghans both overseas and arriving in the U.S. and some ways you can help them.
As vulnerable Afghans flee Kabul, US faith groups prepare to aid them
By Jack Jenkins — August 20, 2021
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Faith-based refugee resettlement groups are mobilizing to help Afghans as they arrive — and from afar.
Biden authorizes new refugee funds, fends off criticism from aid groups
By Jack Jenkins and Emily McFarlan Miller — August 17, 2021
(RNS) — Faith-based groups continued to pressure the White House to help U.S. allies and other vulnerable Afghans, including Christians and other religious minorities.
Refugee aid groups criticize Biden for stumbles in evacuating ‘desperate’ Afghans
By Emily McFarlan Miller and Jack Jenkins — August 16, 2021
(RNS) — Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, head of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, described President Biden's claim that Afghans did not want to leave the country as 'misleading at best.'
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