Dear Friends,
Each year, the White House announces the number of refugees that will be welcomed into the US in the coming year. On behalf of the Inspiritus Refugees & Immigrants services team, we are excited to share the 2025 Presidential Declaration. Click the button below to read now.
Dear Friends,
Inspiritus is proud to share the inspiring story of Raga, featured in the Christian Science Monitor. Originally from Sudan, Raga endured years of hardship in a refugee camp in Darfur and later in Jordan before being resettled with her husband and two young daughters in Alabama in 2022. Since their arrival, Inspiritus has been by their side every step of the way, providing crucial support in securing housing, integrating into their new community, and connecting them with vital resources. Through the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of supporters like you, Raga and her family have not only found refuge but have also begun to rebuild their lives with newfound hope and resilience. Read Raga’s full story below.
By Sarah Matusek
Raga always had to hide two decades ago when she was a young woman in Sudan. The Janjaweed militia in her area was known for spreading terror and raping women, so when they passed through she would bury herself under clothes, blankets, or whatever she could find.
In the early 2000s, she joined countless other Sudanese who fled to an infamous camp for displaced people in Darfur. It offered little shelter from the horrors of war.
Born in 1988, Raga, who asked to use only her first name for privacy, lived in relative peace. Her father hung a swing from a tree. Her mother made orange juice. Without electricity, the moon shone so brightly that children could play games outside at night. They’d toss a coin or a bone, something that would shine, and then see who’d find it fastest on the moon-white ground.
Refugees sit inside a humanitarian truck at the Chad-Sudan border, March 6, 2008, as they await transfer from the border to a refugee camp for people displaced by fighting in Sudan
For a decade she waited in the Zamzam camp in Darfur. For seven more years she waited with her husband in Jordan. They registered with the United Nations as refugees. In 2022, an agency resettled the couple and their two young daughters in the U.S. A place called Alabama.
They were excited when they first heard. But “when we first came, I wanted to leave,” Raga says in Arabic. She didn’t know anyone, and she was scared.
With the help of a local resettlement agency, Inspiritus, the refugee couple secured a home and a few months of financial assistance. The nonprofit helped connect her to volunteers, and they grew into something like family, she says. When she and her husband struggled to get to the grocery store, one of their new friends gave them a gift: a used car.
The car guzzles a lot of gas, Raga says. “But we say, ‘Thank God.’”
The weather in Sudan and Alabama, as it turns out, feels similar. The heat, the heavy rains, the lightning that cracks the sky. All the city lights in the Birmingham suburbs, though, dull the moon glow here.
She feels happy and safe in the U.S. But once again, Raga finds herself waiting.
Learning English is a long-term goal. She dreams of opening a salon or a restaurant, but she knows that will take time. Her husband works, but their expenses outpace his modest income. She aches for her family members still in Sudan, worrying about their lack of food and medicine. She’s heartbroken that she’s unable to send them money, and that the violence endures.
Raga finds solace in her Muslim faith. When she used to work at a church-run food pantry, she says her fellow workers didn’t object when she excused herself to pray, which she does faithfully, five times a day.
“Religion doesn’t have a place or time,” she says. “You can do it anywhere.”
They face struggles, but Raga hopes that she and her husband can build a life in the U.S. that gives their young children a safe place to flourish. “I hope, God willing, I have all the strength to give them anything that they wish for,” Raga says. That includes a good education.
She plays with her daughters, always addressing them in Arabic, and offers homemade orange juice to guests. The drink is sweet and silken on a warm spring day.
“I thought after being here a few months, I would be able to achieve all my dreams,” she says with a laugh. Two years have passed. “We try as hard as we can to stand on our own feet.”
Yasmeen Othman contributed Arabic interpretation for Raga’s interview. Ms. Othman works for Inspiritus.
Read 5 other inspiring stories by viewing the full article HERE.
If you would like to make a contribution to empower refugees on their paths from surviving to thriving, click the button below.
Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus
Dear Friends,
June 20th is World Refugee Day! Since its establishment in 2001, communities across the globe have gathered on this day to recognize the courage and resilience of those who have been forced to flee their home countries, and to similarly celebrate and uplift the social, cultural, and economic contributions they bring to the local communities and countries they now call “home.” We are hosting events commemorating World Refugee Day in Metro Atlanta, Savannah, Birmingham, and Nashville and invite you to join us for a day filled with delicious food, and festivities as we focus our attention to the plight of refugees globally and the importance of welcoming them here locally.
Now more than ever, it is imperative that we show up in support of refugees, asylum seekers, and others who have been displaced from their homes on account of war or persecution and are in need of humanitarian protection. Just this week, the U.S. announced sweeping changes to how we will respond to individuals seeking safety in our country. This disappointing new policy imposes a multitude of new obstacles that greatly restrict the ability of anyone in need of humanitarian protection to claim asylum. Providing safe haven to vulnerable people and welcoming the stranger is not only the right thing to do, it is also a right of anyone in the world to legally exercise.
While World Refugee Day is a day of community, cuisine, and culture, it is also about reaffirming our shared values that transcend differences and speak to our shared humanity. All of our events are taking place between Thursday, June 20th and Sunday, June 23rd and will include music, dance, and other cultural performances along with guest speakers, family activities, and tasty food from the home countries of our refugee and immigrant neighbors. Below you’ll find more details on the specific events happening near you!
Metro Atlanta, Georgia WRD Celebration
DATE: Saturday, June 22nd
TIME:11:00am-2:00pm
LOCATION: Clarkston Community Center, 3701 College Ave, Clarkston, GA 30021
Savannah, Georgia WRD Celebration
DATE: Sunday, June 23rd
TIME: 3:00pm-6:00pm
LOCATION: Lake Mayer Park 1850 East Montgomery Cross RD. Savannah, GA 31406
This event requests that all guests RSVP. To learn more about this event and to register, click here.
Birmingham, Alabama WRD Celebration
DATE: Saturday, June 22nd
TIME:10:00am-2:00pm
LOCATION: Trinity United Methodist, West Campus, 914 Oak Grove Road Birmingham, AL 35209
Nashville, Tennessee WRD Celebration
DATE: Thursday, June 20th
TIME: 6:00-8:00pm
LOCATION: Plaza Mariachi, 3955 Nolensville Pk, Nashville, TN 37211
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our welcoming work and our larger mission of accompanying refugees on their paths from surviving to thriving. We hope to celebrate with you within the next few weeks!
If you would like to make a contribution to empower refugees, click the button below.
Sincerely,
Dear Friends,
Inspiritus is proud to share the inspiring story of Mirwais, featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When Mirwais first arrived in the United States as an Afghan refugee in 2021, our Refugee & Immigrant Services team in Atlanta, GA, was there to support him. A former military officer in Afghanistan, Inspiritus helped him orient to the American workforce through our employment program. Now, Mirwais is using his newfound success to empower other refugees on their paths from surviving to thriving. Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter, Kelly Yamanouch, recently spoke with Mirwais about the incredible work he is doing to help bridge the divide. Read the full story below.
By Kelly Yamanouch
Mirwais Nawab Jalali was a military officer in Afghanistan, assisting the U.S. government there for years in America's longest war, before he left the country in the middle of the night with just some documents and his clothes.
He has a degree in biomedical engineering and other advanced education, and he speaks six languages. But in 2021, after Kabul fell and the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan, "I just came and started from zero," Jalali said.
He eventually ended up here in Georgia, with a special immigrant visa for Afghans who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, living in Decatur while using his English language skills to help other refugees, and working in construction.
Later, a friend here who was an old classmate from Afghanistan told Jalali about a job at Unifi, an Atlanta-based aviation contractor. Unifi does ground handling, security, aircraft cabin cleaning and wheelchair assistance at Hartsfield-Jackson International and other airports around the country.
Jalali started working for Unifi in 2023, and now, as a recruiter for the company, he helps hire employees and get them started on the job.
With his deep connections to the Afghan community in metro Atlanta, Jalali is also helping Unifi with its recently announced goal to hire 500 refugees by 2027.
Mirwais Jalali, a recruiter for aviation contractor Unifi, gives new employees a tour of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, where he helps recruits throughout the company's hiring process. ARVIN TEMKAR/ARVIN.TEMKAR@AJC.COM
'We find a way'
In 2021, President Joe Biden launched an effort to support vulnerable Afghans resettling in the United States, including those who worked alongside Americans in Afghanistan over two decades.
In 2022, Biden announced a process for Ukrainian citizens to come to the United States and be considered for eligibility for work authorization.
In other cities such as Seattle, Unifi is working with a Ukrainian church to reach out to refugees, displaced by Russia's invasion.
In Atlanta, Jalali shares job opportunities with multiple refugee communities in metro Atlanta through WhatsApp groups, and he helps recruits throughout the hiring process, going through background checks to get airport badges, and even arranging carpools to help those without vehicles and driver's licenses get to work.
"When I started, it was very hard to bring a single refugee. But now we find a way," Jalali said.
He said many of the refugees he connects with live in Stone Mountain, Decatur and Clarkston, where the nonprofit Clarkston Community Center offers English as a Second Language classes, connections to legal help for refugees and other services.
Unifi already has hired more than 200 refugees since 2022, particularly at airports in Atlanta, Houston and Seattle.
It is one of more than 200 companies across the country that are members of the Tent Partnership for Refugees to help refugees find jobs in the United States.
They include Delta Air Lines, which is a part-owner of Unifi; Accenture, IHG Hotels & Resorts, UPS, Amazon, Google and others.
"Refugees are looking for jobs. Companies are in short supply," whether it's at a Starbucks or a McDonald's or a Target, said Archana Arcot, Unifi's chief people officer.
The post-pandemic travel surge has motivated Unifi to find more workers and decide to "start having a formal structure to go out and hire refugees," Arcot said.
"Programs like this take a lot more effort to set up (and) establish, but once you have the right structure ... then it creates a multiplier effect," Arcot said. She said the company is trying to build more ecosystems for refugee hiring, such as in Minneapolis.
Refugees have the advantage of coming with eligibility to work in the United States - so the employer doesn't need to sponsor a work visa, Arcot noted.
And airports have long been attractive to "people coming into the country looking for jobs," especially in cities such as Minneapolis, Detroit and in cities in border states such as New York and Seattle, she said. Airports also often have public transit to easily get to work.
Jobs at Unifi and at airlines typically offer flight benefits, which are valuable to those who want to fly back overseas to visit family members.
Airports also tend to have jobs that require physical labor, and where language skills are not as large a barrier, Arcot said. Many of the jobs start at $15 an hour, she said.
"Where you can place them is limited," Arcot said. But she also sees higher retention rates because those workers are "not trying to go and work at three different employers."
Those who speak languages other than English can do well in jobs such as loading snack carts for in-flight catering and janitorial work, especially working on teams together, she said.
Those with English language skills can qualify for customer service roles, according to Arcot.
There may be some restrictions in the kind of work some are comfortable doing, she said. With loading beverage carts, "they may not be comfortable touching liquor," Arcot said. "Knowing the culture and recognizing what in that culture works and where you can assign them work is important."
In Atlanta, Arcot said Jalali is a key part of that strategy as a "high-touch recruiter."
Jalali said with some recruits, they may not speak English, have never used a computer and don't have an email address. He completes applications for them and helps them set up an email address.
"You're making these commitments and investments for the long term," Arcot said.
The long-term goal is for the workers to advance to different jobs, use their language skills and help with "appealing to a multicultural customer passenger base, which will always be the topography of large international airports," she said.
Hogai Nassery, CEO of the Afghan American Alliance of Georgia, said upward mobility is important.
"We have some folks who are pretty well educated and speak pretty good English," Nassery said. "The jobs themselves are great-people need to land on their feet."
She also said, "Whatever they're doing now, I hope it's geared towards jobs that definitely have some legs."
Jobs at the airport, such as with Unifi, are seen as better than work in warehouses, chicken factories and manufacturing plants, said Shaista Amani, program manager at the Afghan American Alliance of Georgia. But she added that workers also need a way to move up, by gaining certified skills such as ServSafe certification for food handling.
But it is difficult for even well-educated Afghan refugees to find professional jobs if they don't have U.S. job experience or personal connections, she said.
Jalali also said he knows some workers who are highly educated and, like when he first arrived, are starting out all over again.
"We have doctors.... We have a minister," Jalali said.
"It's up to you how you want to build your future."
Dear Friends,
Thanks to your generous support, Inspiritus had the privilege of empowering 11,124 individuals on their journeys from surviving to thriving in 2023! It was a year marked by significant growth, exceptional leadership, and a deepened commitment to our mission.
We are thrilled to share with you our 2023 Annual Report, which provides an in-depth look at our achievements and impact over the past year. Inside, you'll find inspiring stories of resilience, community impact, and transformation. Click the button below to read the full report.
Your ongoing support has been instrumental in helping us create thriving communities, and we invite you to explore the full report to see the difference you've made. Thank you for being an essential part of the Inspiritus family and for your continued commitment to our mission.
With gratitude,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus
Dear Friends,
As proposed pieces of legislation continue to advance during state legislative sessions across the country, we want to raise your attention to some anti-immigrant bills that have unfortunately been gaining some traction in the states of Georgia and Tennessee. As time ticks, it will become more imperative (and challenging) to stop these bills from advancing further.
We encourage you to call your lawmakers in your respective states and speak with their offices about these harmful pieces of legislation. Click here to identify your State Representative and State Senator and find their district number.
Read more below for a brief policy update on these bills and more information on how to take action.
Georgia: HB 1105, “Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act”
Requires local law enforcement agencies to act as federal immigration officers and arrest any individual they encounter whose immigration status they cannot verify and for whom they have probable cause to arrest based on impeding felony charges and misdemeanor charges- which includes minor traffic violations.
Withholds state and state-administered federal funding from local governments who do not choose to comply with this policy.
Subjects local police officers to be charged with a misdemeanor for not complying.
Requires sheriffs to hold individuals in custody indefinitely until their immigration status is confirmed by ICE.
Anyone suspected of being undocumented who is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense is required to provide a DNA sample.
This bill encourages profiling and will create a chilling effect across our communities, impacting our state workforce, local schools, and local neighborhoods.
Tennessee: HB 2124 & SB 2576
Similarly to Georgia’s HB 1105, would require all local law enforcement agencies in Tennessee to communicate, cooperate and assist federal immigration officials in detaining (ICE)
Perpetuates the possibility of family separation among immigrant families in TN.
Places a tremendous burden on local law enforcement agencies and hinders their ability to meet the needs of residents by requiring them to operate as immigration agents. This will further erode trust among immigrant communities and local law enforcement.
Waste of resources, time, and capacity for local law enforcement; infringes on the will of voters who elect Sheriffs to act with agency and local authority.
Tennessee: HB 1730 & SB 1717
Aims to require all written driver license examinations to be administered in English only.
Prohibits use of a translation dictionary, electronic device, or interpreter to assist with the examination.
This bill would harm our economy by making it more difficult for some workers to get licensed and drive to their workplaces.
As more people become unlicensed, driving and being on the road generally becomes more dangerous for all of us.
The fact that Tennessee already offers the exam in a number of languages is a good thing for our workforce, local communities, and individuals who are lawfully present in our country and only trying to live their lives. It is mean-spirited and counterproductive.
Thank you for standing in solidarity with us as we aim to protect and defend refugee and immigrant communities across the Southeast. We appreciate you lending your voice.
With gratitude,
Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus
For two weeks, Honduran-born U.S. immigration attorney Killa M. will share her reflections on life in Honduras and on showing mercy to unaccompanied children in "A Call to Mercy", a four-part LSG blog series. Click to read parts one, two, and three.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Lutheran Services of Georgia
When people tell me that unaccompanied children broke the law and, as such, should not be shown mercy, I tell them that laws aren’t perfect and they don’t always reflect current societal realities. There are very few forms of immigration relief available for these minors. One of them is asylum. To succeed in an asylum claim, a person must show a well-founded fear of persecution based on a protected ground such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group (an ever-changing concept that is applied differently depending on the justice circuit where the case is being heard). The person must demonstrate that they are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin, or that they are unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country. This seems like a straightforward concept, but that could not be further from the truth. I could write a dissertation on the complexity of American asylum law, but suffice it to say, our current asylum policy was not drafted to deal with the kind of generalized violence that now reigns in Honduras. To quote the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Delgado Ortiz v. Holder, “Asylum is not available to victims of indiscriminate violence, unless they are singled out on account of a protected ground.” So what can you do when your life is constantly in danger for any reason, or no reason at all?
The limited availability of asylum is reflected in the fact that in 2013, only 3.9 percent of the Honduran asylum claims that came before U.S. Immigration Courts were granted. Seems like an awfully small percentage given that it is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world.
Even when you present a prima facie case in the U.S. legal system, it is not guaranteed that the law will be applied properly. For example, my brother, an attorney working closely with my mother, sought asylum in the U.S. after our mother was murdered. He presented evidence of the murder and of the fact that, since our mother’s death, he had been followed and harassed on multiple occasions. He also presented documentation from the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights requesting that the Honduran government investigate the murder and provide protection to my brother. He presented the Honduran government’s response that it was unwilling and unable to provide that protection. He presented affidavits from prosecutors, judges, security experts, and fellow attorneys testifying that he would surely suffer harm if he remained in Honduras. He asked the U.S. Military Attaché assigned to Honduras to testify to the violent living conditions in Honduras. Finally, he presented evidence that, in 2013 alone, 53 attorneys had been murdered in Honduras. His case was denied because, among other reasons, “[he] had failed to show that any future harm [he] feared is on account of one of the protected characteristics.” If an educated adult, with an objective fear of death, hundreds of pages of evidence, and adequate legal counsel was unable to receive this form of relief, how do you think an unaccompanied child will fare in the U.S. legal system?
For these reasons, I beg you not to turn a blind eye to what is happening at the border with these children. I don’t know exactly how to solve the crisis in Honduras or how to reform immigration laws to ensure protection of these children while slowing the influx of arrivals. I have some ideas, but that is a conversation for another day. For now, I know that we, as Christians, are responsible for showing mercy to these young kids who have already seen more tragedy than most people ever will in their entire lives. There are many ways to help, from volunteering to foster an unaccompanied child to writing a letter to your Senator about the issue. Whatever you do, don’t remain silent.
If you have questions about this blog series or for Killa, please contact Abi Koning, Communications Coordinator, at akoning@lsga.org.
For two weeks, U.S. immigration attorney and Honduran native Killa M. will share her reflections on life in Honduras and on showing mercy to unaccompanied children in "A Call to Mercy", a four-part LSG blog series. Click to read part one and part two.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Lutheran Services of Georgia.
I’m not a sociologist, nor have I studied the development of violent crime as an academic subject. If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re already aware that Honduras is known as the “Murder Capital of the World”. According to the most recent UN study, the murder rate in Honduras is 90 out of 100,000 people. In second place by a large margin is Venezuela with 43 per 100,000 people. By comparison, the rate in the U.S. is currently close to 5 per 100,000 people.
Nevertheless, I’m not writing this article to give you an in-depth analysis of all the factors contributing to the violence that might cause a child to migrate. All I am offering is my personal experience: what I’ve lived through, what I’ve seen, and the stories of my friends, family, and those I serve. I wrote this article to help you understand why children arriving at our doorsteps need mercy, and why you should care. Should people in the United States share responsibility for the fact that the Honduran government is corrupt and the country overrun by drug lords? Should Americans take some responsibility for the fact that people’s lives are at risk in Honduras? It is noteworthy that the United States is the world’s largest consumer of cocaine and a major consumer of many other drugs. Every ounce snorted by Americans is tainted with the blood of innocent people that die because that garbage is trafficked through our land. However, that is just one factor, albeit a significant one, that drives violence in Honduras. Yet I believe that, if you are a follower of Christ, your reaction should not hinge on whether or not you had “anything to do with” causing the violence. Instead, if you are a follower of Christ, you should desire to be merciful like our Father is merciful.
God is not impressed with our lofty acts of sacrifice, or how often we go to church, or how many hours we spend in prayer. In Hosea 6:6, God tells us that he desires mercy, not sacrifice. Near and dear to God’s heart especially are the widow, the orphan, and the alien. James 6:27 explains that “pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Moreover, Deuteronomy 10:18 says of God: “He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.”
It is appalling to me that people in the church would remain silent in the face of such injustice and distress. It’s shocking to see people who claim to be followers of Christ traveling to the border to yell unwelcoming and insulting words at children. Many people come to me and say, “But they broke the law! Doesn’t God command us to obey our local authorities?” To answer that question, I look at the Bible and the U.S. legal system. While Romans 13 does command Christians to abide by the law, this commandment cannot be taken out of context. In all of history there have been laws all over the world that fall short or are contrary to God’s law. Let’s remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—three law breakers who refused to bow down to an egotistical king because it went against God’s command to worship no one aside from him. You cannot ignore God’s law simply to honor human-made laws.
Check back on Thursday, September 25, for part four of "A Call to Mercy". Click to read part one and part two. If you have questions about this blog series or for Killa, please contact Abi Koning, Communications Coordinator, at akoning@lsga.org.
For two weeks,Honduran-born U.S. immigration attorney Killa M. will share her reflections on life in Honduras and on showing mercy to unaccompanied children in "A Call to Mercy", a four-part LSG blog series. To read part one, click here.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Lutheran Services of Georgia.
As a grieving daughter, I know the horror that children coming to the U.S. from Central America are escaping. Through my work within the immigration field, I have heard stories from children who have come to the U.S. after seeing their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends raped, beaten, and murdered.
I’ve listened to a young lady tell me how she heard her neighbors being hacked to death. The next morning, she found the pieces of their bodies stuffed into their old television set. Another young man recounted the story of his brother being beaten in the streets and ultimately killed in front of him because he refused to join a gang. One of my closest friends suffered the loss of her cousin, a bright young woman who was just starting med school. She was murdered after resisting a kidnapping attempt. Last year, while visiting my family members in Honduras, my sister received a death threat which forced us to go into hiding. We left the country the very next day. My brother, also an attorney, was constantly followed and harassed to the point where he feared for his life and came to the U.S. seeking asylum. One of my Honduran friends put his hopelessness into words: “I would rather have been born a dog in any other place than a man in this forsaken country.” In our country, no one knows, no one hears, no one investigates, and no one is held responsible.
Currently, people in Honduras endure levels of violence that people in the U.S. would not tolerate for even a single day. In 2008, three years prior to the attack that led to her death, my mother was shot, but she survived. After that attack, she hired a bodyguard, which served no purpose other than to add to the death toll that horrible November afternoon. Like her, many in Honduras who can afford to do so will hire bodyguards and buy bullet-proof vehicles, just like in a war zone, and hope for the best. It’s a sad sight to see a 12-year-old walking through the mall with her friends, followed by armed men in bullet-proof vests. What kind of life is that? And what about those who live in poverty, who can’t afford to keep their children safe? The violence doesn’t discriminate. It’s obvious; even a child know it’s better to leave.
Check back on Tuesday, September 23, for part three of "A Call to Mercy". To read part one, click here. If you have questions about this blog series or for Killa, please contact Abi Koning, Communications Coordinator, at akoning@lsga.org.
This year, the United States anticipates that over 90,000 children will cross the border unaccompanied. The majority of these children are fleeing violence in the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Lutheran Services of Georgia has already been in communication with the Office of Refugee Resettlement regarding this humanitarian and refugee crisis. We recognize that these children are making a courageous, dangerous journey to escape desperate situations back home. Our commitment to serve those in need compels us to provide safety, care, and welcome for this vulnerable population. Our experience bringing hope, healing, and strength to children and families through specialized foster care and other programs prepares us to assist in any way we are asked.
In order to empower you to join us in taking action, we have compiled the following list of ways you can support unaccompanied children. Please share this list with all those who have a heart for welcome.
LEARN: Supporting unaccompanied children begins with awareness of their situation. In the midst of so much misinformation and discrimination towards these children, spreading accurate information and compassionate perspectives on the crisis is crucial. Check out and share the following resources with those looking to learn more.
GIVE: There are several organizations reaching out to unaccompanied children, but they need your support. Here are two possibilities for giving.
WELCOME: LSG is committed to welcoming unaccompanied children. Join us in welcome.
ADVOCATE: Policies have a direct impact on the lives of these children. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services offers a number of advocacy opportunities on their website.
PRAY: Support unaccompanied children through prayer.
If you would like to suggest another resource or share a personal story of supporting unaccompanied children, please contact Abi Koning at akoning@lsga.org. Thank you for joining us in welcome.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and Lutheran Services of Georgia are calling for supporters of refugees and unaccompanied children to join us in raising our voices to advocate for these vulnerable populations.
The Situation: Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children are fleeing ongoing violence in the Central American countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras and seeking shelter in the United States. These children have been forced to endure conditions that lack compassion and dignity, including sleeping on floors in Border Patrol stations. The numbers are growing drastically–in Fiscal Year 2014, over 60,000 additional children are expected to cross into the U.S. On July 20, 2014, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) announced that they were planning to “reprogram” 94 million dollars from refugee resettlement to respond to this crisis.
The Problem: Refugee programs are already underfunded. Taking funding from refugee resettlement would hollow out existing services, including access to medical and employment assistance for already resettled refugees and those who have yet to arrive. Refugees will not receive the help they need and have been promised to adjust to life in their new communities. The United States cannot help one vulnerable population by hurting another.
The Response: LIRS is calling on Congress and the Obama Administration to allocate $200 million in emergency supplemental funds for the ORR during the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years. This will allow ORR to both reinstate critical programs for refugees and care for unaccompanied children.
How You Can Help: Join LIRS and LSG in raising your voice! Congress is in recess from June 30 to July 7, so your emails and phone calls are needed right now. Don’t know what to say? That’s alright – LIRS has provided a sample script for a phone call and an email template.
To call, dial (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected with your two Senators and your Representative. Here is a sample script you can use to tailor your personal message, describing your own work or relationships with refugees, unaccompanied children, and other vulnerable migrants.
Hi, my name is [NAME], from [City, State] May I please speak with the staff person who handles appropriations issues?
I am calling to urge the [SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE] to support increased funding for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement by $200 million in FY 2014 so they can meet the needs of both unaccompanied children and refugees. A lack of additional funding would compromise America’s ability to provide persecuted refugees and vulnerable unaccompanied children with safe haven and a chance at a new life. Funding for this program is an investment in the safety and self-sufficiency of people we welcome to American communities. Please ensure that Congress appropriates supplemental funding at least in $200 million in FY 14 and at least $3.3 billion in funding for HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement for FY 2015.
If you’d prefer to send an email, click here for an easy-to-use email template that will go straight to your Congressmen’s offices.
Spread the Word: You can also spread awareness about this issue by sharing this information via email and social media. One way to spread the word is to tweet at your Senators or Representative. Find their Twitter Handles athttps://twitter.com/cspan/lists/members-of-congress and urge them to increase their funds for ORR. Try tweeting:
Thanks for joining us in ensuring that both refugees and unaccompanied children receive the care and support that they need to thrive!
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