Action Alerts
Latest Action Alerts
TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress to Honor Refugees on World Refugee Day on June 20th
As we approach World Refugee Day on June 20th, now is the time to make your voices heard to tell your Members of Congress to stand in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers – and support refugee resettlement and asylum protections. In recognition of the sacrifice, resilience, and contributions of refugees – including the hundreds of thousands who have been …
TAKE ACTION: Urge Biden Administration & Congress to Pass a Pathway to Citizenship for Undocumented Community Members
Immigrants are part of our national fabric and vital to the prosperity of our communities. They are valued members of our families, congregations, and communities. Immigrants help drive our economy, including undocumented immigrants and individuals with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Immigrant essential workers have faced the most significant risks …
TAKE ACTION: Urge Your State Legislators to Support and Welcome Refugees in Ohio
Right now, the Ohio legislature is considering a vital resolution, Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, which commends refugee communities in Ohio for their many contributions to the beauty and richness of Ohio’s diversity and for their work to make this state a place where all are welcome, accepted, and appreciated. This is an important pro-refugee resolution that recognizes refugees’ strength and …
TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Senators to Support TPS Holders & Co-Sponsor the SECURE Act
Individuals and families with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are part of our national fabric and vital to the prosperity of our communities. However, over 400,000 TPS holders are currently living their lives in limbo. For far too long, our community members with TPS have waited for Congress to deliver an opportunity to pass a meaningful, permanent solution that provides a …
TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Senator to Invest in Capacity to Welcome Asylum Seekers & Unaccompanied Children
As the United States rebuilds its capacity to welcome and Congress considers funding for Fiscal Year 2022, it is vital that Congress invest in an effective, humane, and just immigration system that upholds the dignity of all asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, and immigrants. An important proposal has been introduced in the Senate as a significant step to welcome children and …
TAKE ACTION: Tell North Carolina Lawmakers to Support Refugee Integration
Background: Right now, the North Carolina General Assembly is considering an important proposal, called a Workforce Development Study for Refugees, HB 540, that would establish a workgroup to study the challenges refugees face in utilizing their professional credentials earned outside the United States and to facilitate their workforce development. This is an important pro-refugee proposal that would help strengthen refugee …
Take Action: Tell President Biden and Congress to Restore Asylum Protections and Welcome Asylum Seekers & Unaccompanied Children
Now is the time for visionary action to restore and strengthen asylum protections and policies that welcome asylum seekers and unaccompanied children. Following reports about an increase in asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, and migrants arriving to the U.S.-Mexico border, the administration’s data point to a slow month-long decline in arrivals of unaccompanied children. In addition, for more than a year, …
Urgent Action: As Biden Administration Increases Refugee Resettlement Goal for FY2021, Urge Them to Swiftly Rebuild U.S. Resettlement Program
Today, the Biden administration announced that it will formally increase the FY 2021 refugee admissions goal to 62,500 for the remainder of the fiscal year. Though this is a welcome and much-needed step, it follows a months-long delay in finalizing an increased admissions goal, which jeopardized the safety of many and had already caused irreparable damage to thousands of refugees …
Urgent Action: As President Biden Breaks Promise to Restore Refugee Resettlement, Tell Our National Leaders to Protect Refugees
On Friday, April 16, the Biden administration announced that it will keep the historic-low refugee admissions goal of 15,000 in place for the remainder of this fiscal year, despite promising to raise the goal to 62,500. Although the administration plans to restore regional allocations based on vulnerability and undo the previous administration’s discriminatory resettlement allocations, thousands of refugees will be …
TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to Welcome Refugees and Support the GRACE Act
The previous administration dismantled the refugee resettlement program by more than 80% and set consecutively historic-low refugee admissions goals, with a FY 2021 refugee admissions goal of only 15,000. This is despite facing the worst refugee crisis in history. With the new administration in place, it is critical that we urge Congress to take immediate action to begin rebuilding the …
URGENT TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress and Biden Administration to Restore Asylum Protections and Welcome All Asylum Seekers, Unaccompanied Children, and Immigrants
As we rebuild U.S. leadership as a beacon of hope, where people from around the world seek freedom, safety, and protection from persecution, we are deeply concerned about the Biden administration’s failure to adequately restore asylum protections and terminate the previous administration’s anti-asylum, anti-immigrant policies. Asylum seekers are still being forcibly expelled from the border and returned to danger under …
TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress and Biden Administration to Protect Black Immigrants and Asylum Seekers from Deportation and Family Separation
Since February 1st, 18 deportation flights have gone to Haiti, expelling over 1,000 Haitians, including at least 270 children, under a Trump-era policy that uses COVID-19 as an excuse to deny immigrants access to the asylum process. Thousands of other immigrants, including people from Cameroon and Mauritania, face harm upon being deported to their home country due to violent crime …
TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Senators to Support Inclusive COVID Relief for All of Our Neighbors
On Saturday, the House of Representative passed the American Rescue Plan Act, the newest COVID reconciliation relief package that will provide urgently-needed support and assistance for millions of people in the country. As we continue to fight this public health and economic crisis, it is imperative that our national leaders support inclusive relief for our neighbors. Now, it is up …
URGENT TAKE ACTION: Urge Biden Administration to Protect Refugees
Over a month ago, President Joe Biden promised to expand refugee protection in the United States, and planned to issue a revised FY21 admissions goal, raising the number of refugees to be welcomed to the United States from 15,000 to 62,500. The Biden administration has already proposed, and met with Congress to discuss increasing the refugee admissions goal for this …
TEXAS TAKE ACTION: Urge Senator Cornyn to Welcome Refugees
This week, the Biden administration will consult with Congress to discuss increasing the FY 2021 refugee admissions goal to the proposed 62,500. The need to rebuild and strengthen the U.S. resettlement program is vital to respond to the worst displacement crisis in history, advance U.S. national security interests, and serve as a global model for humanitarian protection. Given Senator Cornyn’s …
CALIFORNIA TAKE ACTION: Urge Congressman McClintock to Welcome Refugees
This week, the Biden administration will consult with Congress to discuss increasing the FY 2021 refugee admissions goal to the proposed 62,500. The need to rebuild and strengthen the U.S. resettlement program is vital to respond to the worst displacement crisis in history, advance U.S. national security interests, and serve as a global model for humanitarian protection. Given Congressman McClintock’s …
IOWA TAKE ACTION: Urge Senator Grassley to Welcome Refugees
This week, the Biden administration will consult with Congress to discuss increasing the FY 2021 refugee admissions goal to the proposed 62,500. The need to rebuild and strengthen the U.S. resettlement program is vital to respond to the worst displacement crisis in history, advance U.S. national security interests, and serve as a global model for humanitarian protection. Given Senator Grassley’s …
OHIO TAKE ACTION: Urge Congressman Jordan to Welcome Refugees
This week, the Biden administration will consult with Congress to discuss increasing the FY 2021 refugee admissions goal to the proposed 62,500. The need to rebuild and strengthen the U.S. resettlement program is vital to respond to the worst displacement crisis in history, advance U.S. national security interests, and serve as a global model for humanitarian protection. Given Congressman Jordan’s …
URGENT! TAKE ACTION: Urge Biden Administration to Protect Refugees and Restore Refugee Resettlement Program
This week, the Biden administration is expected to take executive action to restore the refugee resettlement program. This is particularly welcome news, in light of strong support for America as a beacon of hope, safety, and refuge — and the previous administration’s dismantling of the program by more than 80%. As we face the worst refugee crisis in history, it …
TAKE ACTION: Tell Virginia Lawmakers to Support Refugee Integration
Background: Right now, the Virginia General Assembly is considering an important proposal, called a “budget amendment,” that would establish a workgroup to study the challenges refugees’ face in utilizing their professional credentials earned outside the United States and to facilitate their workforce development. This is an important pro-refugee proposal that would help strengthen refugee integration in Virginia and help them …
URGENT: Urge Congress to Include All Families and Neighbors in COVID Relief
Right now, Congress is considering a COVID relief package to accompany federal funding for the remainder of this fiscal year. As congressional leaders plan to include another round of stimulus checks in the package to provide relief to Americans during this crisis, it is vital that ALL of our community members are able to access this critical relief. The last …
URGENT TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to Support Robust Funding for Refugees in FY 2021
Right now, Congress is considering funding bills for Fiscal Year 2021 before federal funding expires on December 11th. This includes funding for the U.S. resettlement program and resources for local communities to help refugees integrate and thrive. As we confront the worst displacement crisis in history and the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital that Congress support and pass robust …
URGENT ACTION: Stop President Trump from Dismantling Refugee Resettlement! Tell Congress New Record-Low Refugee Admissions Goal is Morally Unconscionable
The Trump administration just officially set the refugee admissions goal for next fiscal year at 15,000—the lowest level in U.S. history—and is harmfully restricting refugee arrivals based on limited categories of persecution and country of origin, meaning even fewer than 15,000 refugees will actually be resettled. Since taking office, the Trump administration has sought to dismantle and destroy the U.S. …
NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY (Monday, October 26th): Tell Congress to Pressure the Administration to Restore Refugee Resettlement Program and Welcome Refugees
The Trump administration has proposed the lowest refugee admissions goal in history — just 15,000 refugees in FY2021 — and the roadmap of the administration’s proposal suggests even fewer than 15,000 refugees would actually be resettled. As the first month of this fiscal year comes to an end, the President has STILL failed to sign a refugee admissions goal for …
URGENT CALLS NEEDED: Stop the Administration from Setting Historic Low Refugee Admissions Goal
The administration is planning to consult with Congress about the FY 2021 refugee admissions goal on Tuesday, October 20th. The administration has proposed a refugee admissions goal for FY 2021 of 15,000 – a historic low. The administration also proposed allocations based on populations of specific concern, not geographic need or vulnerability, which means it is likely that fewer than …
TAKE ACTION: Urge Your U.S. Representative to Cosponsor Bipartisan Legislation that Facilitates Refugee and Immigrant Integration
Refugees and immigrants are vital to the prosperity of our communities. However, many immigrants and refugees remain unable to fully contribute their talents to the workforce because of systemic barriers, including the lack of recognition of their international education and experience, outdated occupational and professional recredentialing processes, and insufficient access to meaningful workforce development and adult education services. The underutilization …
TAKE ACTION: Tell Your Members of Congress to Hold the Administration Accountable for Immoral Medical Neglect and to Cut Funding for Immigrant Detention
This week, a brave whistleblower revealed egregious medical neglect and abuse within the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Irwin County Detention Facility in Georgia. In addition to refusing to test people in detention for COVID-19, ICE performed an alarming amount of hysterectomies on immigrant women against their will. These disturbing reports are the latest form …
Take Action Now: Urge Congress to Hold the Administration Accountable to Resettling Refugees
As part of an annual process required by law, the Trump administration is considering how many refugees can be resettled to the United States in Fiscal Year 2021. Last week, troubling new reports are indicating that the Trump administration is considering delaying setting the admissions goal and/or further cutting the admissions goal from the already historic low of 18,000. The …
TAKE ACTION: Tell Your Senators to Save the Postal Service (USPS)
This year, in the midst of a pandemic, emergency funding is needed for the United States Postal Service (USPS) to continue serving the public. As an essential part of our national infrastructure and a vital component of the economy, USPS funding is critical for businesses struggling to stay open, for people to get their essential prescription medications, and for voters …
TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Senators to Protect ALL Communities in COVID-19 Legislation
Right now, Congress is negotiating another COVID-19 relief package. The latest Senate proposal, which failed in a vote last week, failed to prioritize Americans with few resources, Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC), and left out assistance for our immigrant and refugee neighbors. Crises test who we are as a nation – and we are stronger when we …
TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress to Protect and Release Immigrants in Detention and Restore Asylum Protections
The COVID-19 crisis is testing our strength as a society. Across faith traditions, we believe that all people have inherent dignity and are deserving of basic human rights. However, in the midst of a growing global pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to target and detain – and deport – immigrants, threatening the …
Take Action for Women and Girls
We’ve made much progress since International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1910. Today, fewer women die giving birth, more can own property in their own name and millions more girls are literate and attend school. However, there is still a long way to go! Women and girls are 25% more likely than men to endure extreme poverty. 35% of …
Help end world hunger: Urge Congress to re-authorize the Global Food Security Act
I was hungry and you enabled me to eat – Jesus (Matt. 25:35) Give a woman a fish and you feed her for a day. Empower a woman to fish and you feed her family and community for a lifetime. – Chinese proverb In 2016 the Global Food Security Act (GFSA) was signed into law with bipartisan support. This year GFSA is up for reauthorization. HR 5129 in …
Support international relief and development aid
Oppose President Trump’s budget cuts President Trump has proposed a budget for Fiscal Year 2018 that will cut approximately 30 percent from international assistance that provides a “hand up” for people struggling to overcome poverty in low-income countries. These cuts will result in more people dying from hunger and disease, the stunting of children’s growth, refugees being abandoned, and the …