Killing of Johan Sebastian occurred less than a week after Houston shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo WASHINGTON, DC, JULY 14, 2026—Church World Service today expressed its condolences and a message of mourning and solidarity following another fatal ICE shooting, this time in Biddeford, Maine. The victim, Johan Sebastian, was a 26-year-old Colombian national with work authorization, and media reports assert …
TAKE ACTION: Demand Justice and Accountability After ICE Shootings
On July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Houston resident and father, was fatally shot by federal immigration agents in the city’s East End. Just days later, ICE fatally shot another man, Johan Sebastián, in Biddeford, Maine. Federal immigration officials have shot and killed 11 people since the second Trump administration began. In 2026 alone, 21 people have died while detained …
Daily State of Play: Trump’s Indefinite Refugee Ban and Funding Halt
The Trump administration’s indefinite refugee ban, stop work orders and prolonged delays in reimbursement for resettlement agencies have had a devastating impact on tens of thousands of refugee families and communities across the country and around the world. Welcome to the latest edition of State of Play from Church World Service. This resource will provide regular updates from the CWS …
Fatal Shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston Continues Pattern of Violent ICE Immigration Enforcement Tactics
July 10, 2026
CWS Calls for Accountability WASHINGTON, D.C., July 10, 2026 — Church World Service issued a statement today expressing its profound condolences to the family, loved ones, and neighbors mourning the loss of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Houston resident and father who was fatally shot by federal immigration agents on July 7 in the city’s East End. CWS joins the growing …
Until Everyone Is Safe: Why Protection Is at the Heart of CWS Humanitarian Work
July 9, 2026
As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, CWS reaffirms a simple promise: protection must remain at the center of humanitarian action. From refugee resettlement and asylum support to disaster response, mental health care and anti-trafficking services, CWS works alongside communities so every person can live with safety, dignity and hope. “No one shall expel or …
‘When We Invest in Dreams, We Unlock Potential’: One Man’s Journey to the Paralympics
July 2, 2026
After fleeing Cuba and resettling in the United States, Frank is continuing his remarkable journey to the Paralympics, training for elite competition while rebuilding his life with support from CWS Florida. His story highlights the resilience of refugee athletes and the power of community support. A Refugee Athlete’s Journey Toward the Paralympics When Frank* arrived in the United States after …
Church World Service Responds to Supreme Court Rulings on Asylum Rights, TPS, and Birthright Citizenship
June 30, 2026
WASHINGTON, June 30, 2026—Today, the international humanitarian and social justice organization Church World Service welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Barbara affirming that the Constitution guarantees citizenship to those born on U.S. soil, while decrying two SCOTUS rulings last week allowing the Trump administration, respectively, to turn away asylum seekers at the border and to terminate Temporary …
TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Senators to Pass Legislation to Protect Haitian TPS Holders
June 29, 2026
On June 25, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Mullin v. Doe allowing the administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for more than 330,000 Haitians and over 6,000 Syrians in the United States. The termination is expected to take effect imminently. The Court ruled that despite extremely unsafe conditions in Haiti and the Department of Homeland Security’s numerous procedural violations of …
“I Work Hard Because My Children Depend on Me”: How Veronique Is Strengthening Food Security in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp
June 26, 2026
After being displaced twice, Veronique rebuilt her life in Tanzania’s Nyarugusu Refugee Camp by becoming a farmer and community leader, improving her family’s food security while empowering others to do the same. Forced to Flee, Determined to Rebuild When people are forced to flee due to conflict, they are not only leaving behind their homes. They are leaving behind their …
“I Finally Felt That My Voice Mattered”: How Oksana is Advancing Women’s Dignity in Ukraine
In the small coastal town of Chornomorsk, Ukraine, news spreads fast. For a person living with HIV, like Oksana, the fear of private life becoming public can feel debilitating. Oksana spent years trapped in self-stigma, afraid of being judged by her neighbors and wanting nothing more than to become invisible. Then, her biggest fear came true: during a visit to the local clinic, her doctor violated medical confidentiality, writing her …