1. NEW from me & @emmillerwrites: As Biden announced a new EO raising the refugee ceiling (eventually) to pre-Trump levels, we asked leaders of the 6 faith-based orgs that help the govt resettle refugees what it will take to rebuild the decimated program. religionnews.com/2021/02/05/fai…
2. Key thing to keep in mind: these faith groups are essentially the core of the refugee program here in the U.S.
There are only 9 groups that resettle refugees domestically, and 6 are faith-based — i.e., the groups we spoke with.
Their programs have had a rough go under Trump.
There are only 9 groups that resettle refugees domestically, and 6 are faith-based — i.e., the groups we spoke with.
Their programs have had a rough go under Trump.
3. Every year the Trump admin lowered the refugee ceiling despite the pleas of these religious groups — one of which is evangelical.
Consequently, most had to close offices and lay off staff.
Here's the thing: many staff are *themselves former refugees.* religionnews.com/2018/02/16/fai…
Consequently, most had to close offices and lay off staff.
Here's the thing: many staff are *themselves former refugees.* religionnews.com/2018/02/16/fai…
4. The situation for these agencies — and, as they repeatedly argued, the refugees they serve — got worse every year under Trump.
The Trump admin wouldn't budge. religionnews.com/2019/02/04/two…
The Trump admin wouldn't budge. religionnews.com/2019/02/04/two…
5. There was one refugee group Trump said he wanted to help: persecuted Christians abroad.
But as refugee groups noted: from a refugee standpoint, that didn't happen. *FEWER* Christian refugees from "countries of concern" were admitted under Trump. religionnews.com/2019/07/25/tru…
But as refugee groups noted: from a refugee standpoint, that didn't happen. *FEWER* Christian refugees from "countries of concern" were admitted under Trump. religionnews.com/2019/07/25/tru…
6. Meanwhile, the Trump administration kept chipping away at the program. He signed an executive order allowing state and local officials to deny refugee resettlement.
The faith groups — specifically HIAS, CWS, and LIRS — sued. religionnews.com/2019/11/22/fai…
The faith groups — specifically HIAS, CWS, and LIRS — sued. religionnews.com/2019/11/22/fai…
7. Turns out their legal challenge was pretty strong, because earlier this year the court sided with the faith groups. religionnews.com/2021/01/08/cou…
8. Meanwhile, in the tail end of 2020, the State Department started vanishing refugee data, including religious affiliation — for reasons that remain unclear. religionnews.com/2020/10/13/ref…
9. This all is radically different from Biden's approach.
In fact, when Biden re-announced during the transition his intention to raise the refugee ceiling, he did it while addressing a religious group — specifically, the Jesuit Refugee Service. religionnews.com/2020/11/12/bid…
In fact, when Biden re-announced during the transition his intention to raise the refugee ceiling, he did it while addressing a religious group — specifically, the Jesuit Refugee Service. religionnews.com/2020/11/12/bid…
10. What's more, Biden's DHS pick Alejandro Mayorkas — who until recently served on the board of HIAS! — *met with faith groups including faith-based refugee resettlement groups* during the transition. religionnews.com/2020/12/18/bid…
11. And just in case you weren't convinced of the crucial role the faith-based groups played in this program, our story breaks the news that this week a prominent Church World Service staffer has left to work as chief of staff to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
12. There's tons more, and advocates say the road to rebuilding the refugee resettlement apparatus will be long.
You can read it all in our story here: religionnews.com/2021/02/05/fai…
You can read it all in our story here: religionnews.com/2021/02/05/fai…
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