Dear Chairman Jordan and Ranking Member Raskin: The undersigned 25 faith-based organizations and congregations write to express our strong opposition to H.R. 175, the “Deport Alien Gang Members Act.” Across our traditions, our organizations share the commitment to welcome the sojourner, love our neighbor, and uphold the dignity of every person. H.R. 175 betrays that call by penalizing members of …

Beginning in 1993, Democratic and Republican presidential administrations upheld policies affirming that people must be able to access places such as schools, houses of worship, courthouses, and other locations that provide essential services without fear of detention or deportation. However, over the three decades these “sensitive locations” guidelines were in place, Congress never codified limits on immigration enforcement actions in …

What is the Lautenberg Program? The Lautenberg Program is one of the U.S.’s primary tools for protecting refugees fleeing religious persecution. The program facilitates reunification for families who have fled Iran and the former Soviet Union as a result of threats to their religious freedom. The Lautenberg Program has created a path to safety for a wide range of religious …

What is SNAP and who qualifies for it? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – formerly known as the Food Stamp Program – provides cash assistance to eligible low-income households to help them purchase groceries. SNAP is overseen federally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is typically administered by state governments (though in ten states, county governments operate …

View this document as a PDF here. Right now, thousands of refugees and other immigrants seeking safety from persecution are losing access to the federal food assistance benefits that make it possible for them to put food on the table. When Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” it cut off refugees and other humanitarian arrivals from the Supplemental …

Thousands of refugees and others seeking safety from persecution are losing access to the federal assistance that makes it possible for them to put food on the table. Learn how you can advocate to prevent refugee and immigrant communities in your state from going hungry. Background On July 4, President Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) into …

The Refugee Act of 1980 established the framework for refugee resettlement and the protection of asylum seekers that remains the core of U.S. refugee and asylum law today. The law requires the president to set a refugee admissions target, or “Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions” (PD) by the end of each fiscal year on September 30 and establishes a process …

September is a critical month for advocacy in support of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and for all those who have been left stranded by the ongoing refugee ban. The federal fiscal year is ending. Before Fiscal Year 2026 begins on October 1, the administration is required to consult with Congress and establish a new target for refugee admissions for …

Every couple of months, Members of Congress go on “recess,” returning to their home states and districts. Both members of the House of Representatives and the Senate use these periods to engage with constituents, hold town halls and public events, conduct in-district legislative meetings, and make themselves available to their constituents. Each August, members head out on the longest recess …

For nearly 80 years, Church World Service (CWS) has worked toward our vision of a world in which all people have food, voice, and a safe place to call home. As a global humanitarian organization, CWS represents nine million people of faith across 14 faith-based organizations and denominations. Through refugee resettlement offices and affiliates, home study and post release services …