Refugee cases assured to a resettlement agency are now exempt from travel ban; ‘bona fide relationships’ expanded to include more family members
Church World Service, one of nine refugee resettlement agencies in the United States, today applauded a federal court’s expanded interpretation of “bonafide relationship” and clarification that a refugee’s relationship with a resettlement agency exempts them from the travel ban. Bona fide relationships are now broadened to include grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
“We commend the federal court’s decision that now recognizes these key relationships. How could a granddaughter not be considered a family member? How could a refugee’s documented relationship with a U.S. refugee resettlement agency not count as a U.S. tie? These arbitrary limitations betray logic and common sense, and we’re heartened the federal court rose above this today. The next step is for the administration to immediately follow suit by implementing this decision and issuing guidance that alters their interpretation accordingly,” said Erol Kekic, Executive Director of the CWS Immigration and Refugee Program.
The following refugee program and policy experts are available to speak to media.
***Please contact media@cwsglobal.org to arrange the interviews.***
- EROL KEKIC | Former Refugee and Executive Director, CWS Immigration and Refugee Program
- JEN SMYERS | Director of Policy and Advocacy, CWS Immigration and Refugee Program
Additionally, the following refugee clients from across the CWS network are available for interviews.
***Please contact media@cwsglobal.org to arrange the interviews.***
- GRANDMOTHER from Ukraine in Syracuse (NY). Her adult daughter and granddaughter are religious minority refugees from the Ukraine, the mother has decided to travel without her daughter because the travel ban did not allow her daughter, the granddaughter, to join her.
- MUSTAFA NUUR | refugee resettled in Lancaster, PA with his mother and sisters, having no previous U.S. family ties.
- FAJER, Mohamed Muzhar Abdullah | refugee who arrived yesterday at our Dallas affiliate.
- COUSIN of recently arrived refugee in Louisville, KY.
Since 1946, Church World Service has supported refugees, immigrants and other displaced individuals, in addition to providing sustainable relief and development solutions to communities that wrestle with hunger and poverty. Learn more about our work and join our global homebase for refugee solidarity at GreaterAs1.org.
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