Throughout my 20-year career, I’ve visited many formal and informal refugee camps, where people live in limbo, sometimes, for generations. In many cases, going home equates a death sentence, but the country in which they are living doesn’t allow them to live and work. They often depend on rations of rice and beans, their children educated by non profits with limited resources, and their worlds restricted to the boundaries of the camp. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has traditionally provided a lifeline for these individuals, but the need is so great- the United Nations Refugee Agency estimates there are 117.3 million forcibly displaced persons globally, 43 million of whom are refugees, only 1% of who are resettled a year. Organizations like Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) have partnered with the U.S. government since 1980, when The Refugee Act was signed by President Jimmy Carter, to provide services aimed at supporting refugees arriving through USRAP with transitioning to their new communities. Lutherans, and other communities of faith, were natural partners of the U.S. government, as they had been welcoming immigrants arriving to Ellis Island, seeking religious freedom for years. Now, USRAP, which had been supported and upheld as a shining example of democracy by Democratic and Republican Administrations alike, is at risk, with the U.S. State Department’s termination of cooperative agreements and funds to nonprofits for services rendered frozen. This leaves refugees around the globe in unsafe and uncertain situations, prolongs family separations, and leaves recently resettled refugees without a safety net. Join us on this 45th anniversary of The Refugee Act in contacting your elected officials to share why you support the work of welcome and believe USRAP should continue its life-saving work and that any efforts to further restrict access create harm. Contact your representative and demand the resumption of USRAP. https://lnkd.in/da8KKBMV Donate to support newly arrived refugees with housing, job training, and essentials. https://lssnca.org/donate/ #RefugeesWelcome
45 years ago today, President Jimmy Carter signed the bipartisan Refugee Act of 1980, establishing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and asylum systems. Since then, millions have found safety, opportunity, and a home in the U.S. Thanks to this law, lives have been transformed—families reunited, dreams realized, and communities enriched. We've seen firsthand the profound impact of resettlement. People like Dieu, who fled the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, spent his childhood in a refugee camp, and is now pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot in the U.S. And LSSNCA COO Mamadou, who spent 11 years in a refugee camp before resettling here, is now helping others achieve the same. But our legacy of welcome is at risk. The US Refugee Admissions Program is suspended, and resettlement funds are being slashed. We need your voice and action. ? Contact your representative and demand the resumption of USRAP. https://lnkd.in/da8KKBMV ? Donate to support newly arrived refugees with housing, job training, and essentials. https://lssnca.org/donate/ For 45 years, America has been a beacon of hope. Let’s continue this legacy of welcome. #RefugeesWelcome #USRAP #LSSNCA #SupportRefugees