As First Group of Afrikaners Prepares to Travel to the United States, CWS Urges Administration to Comply with Court Order to Resettle All Eligible Refugees New York City– CWS today expressed deep concern over news that the Trump Administration will soon admit Afrikaners and other racial minorities from South Africa to the United States as refugees, while simultaneously delaying …
U.S. Government Ordered to Comply with Court Orders in Refugee Ban Lawsuit or Face Sanctions
May 6, 2025
U.S. Government Ordered to Comply with Court Orders in Refugee Ban Lawsuit or Face Sanctions Government Must Process Around 12,000 Refugees Stranded by Trump Administration (Seattle, WA) – CWS, HIAS, LCSNW, and IRAP welcomed the compliance order issued yesterday in Pacito v. Trump, reaffirming that the government must process and provide resettlement support to refugees who were conditionally approved …
House Proposal of levying of fees on Immigrants would Harm the Vulnerable, Especially Children
May 2, 2025
Washington, D.C.—In response to a recent heinous proposal in the House of Representatives by Republican lawmakers, Christine Lemonda, Senior Director Children’s Services, issued the following statement “The proposal to levy massive fees on potential sponsors of unaccompanied children is nothing less than a policy of family separation. These kids are fleeing violence, persecution, and desperation and should be swiftly released …
CWS to Close 11 Local Program Offices Serving Refugees and Immigrants
May 1, 2025
New York City– CWS today announced that the organization will be closing 11 program offices across the United States following sweeping actions taken by the Trump Administration terminating or suspending federally funded programs supporting refugees and immigrants. The office locations in the process of closing include: Georgetown, DE; Jacksonville, FL; Orlando, FL; Grand Rapids, MI; Kalamazoo, MI; Burlington, NC; Charlotte, …
CWS Celebrates Easter, Reflects on the Hope of the Resurrection
April 18, 2025
Washington, D.C.—Ahead of Easter Sunday in celebration of the spirit of Easter, Rick Santos, President and CEO of Church World Service issued the following statement: This Easter we celebrate and remember the life of Jesus Christ and the hope of his resurrection. We are inspired to live in the promise of a renewed world and to join together with other …
Revoking Temporary Protected Status for our Neighbors from Afghanistan and Cameroon Betrays Our Values
April 11, 2025
Washington, D.C.—Church World Service today expressed its deep concern over a report that the Trump administration intends to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 9,000 Afghans and 3,000 Cameroonians living in the United States. The decision will have dire consequences for Afghans and Cameroonians who have built lives, filled essential jobs, started businesses, and contributed to our communities. …
New Report Highlights How Executive Orders are Worsening Crisis in Haiti
April 4, 2025
Port-Au-Prince, Haiti—Today, Church World Service released a new report, “The Dismantling of the Inter-American Foundation: Haiti Rapid Assessment – March 2025.” The groundbreaking report shines a light on the impacts of Trump Administration policies on Haitian farmers, families, and internally displaced people. In addition to the closure of USAID and reduced funding to UN humanitarian operations, the executive order “Commencing the …
Trump Administration Blocked from Terminating Agreements with Refugee-Serving Agencies
March 25, 2025
A Federal Court in Seattle Issued Additional Preliminary Injunction in Case Challenging Refugee Ban Seattle, WA– Yesterday evening, a federal court in Seattle issued a second preliminary injunction in Pacito v. Trump, finding the government’s efforts to terminate its agreements with refugee-serving agencies to be unlawful. The government attempted to terminate these agreements just one day after the court’s previous order …
Revoking Lawful Status for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans in the United States is a Cruel Misstep
Washington, D.C.—Church World Service today expressed its alarm over the Trump administration’s decision to categorically revoke the humanitarian parole status that granted over 530,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) nationals living in the United States protection from deportation and work authorization. The blanket revocations, which are set to go into effect on April 24, will place hundreds of thousands …
Termination of Unaccompanied Children Programs Strips Vulnerable Kids of Legal Protection and Support
March 21, 2025
New York City – CWS today expressed alarm over the administration’s near-total termination of work on its Unaccompanied Children Program, halting legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children. The organization notes that this executive action immediately strips thousands of children–including infants and young children–from legal representation, forcing them to now navigate and somehow represent themselves in immigration court proceedings. “No child …