During the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan, more than 2,000 U.S. military personnel died—and alongside them, an uncounted number of Afghans who served in the American forces. Recruited as interpreters, medics, engineers, and other professionals, they risked their lives to accompany U.S. troops into the field. In 2006, Congress first established the Special Immigrant Visa […]
Author: USCRI
A Historical Exploration of Outdated Immigration Laws
Photo: University of Minnesota Libraries, Immigration History Research Center Archives. The Alien Enemies Act became law over 200 years ago. The Alien Registration Act was passed in 1940, when immigration and government looked starkly different. Both of these laws were passed when the country was on the brink of war with adversary nations. Yet, […]
Azorean Refugee Act: Reviving Its Legacy
In 1957, the Capelinhos volcano began its submarine explosion, damaging houses and farmlands. For the next 13 months, the eruption caused violent explosions, raining ash, and earthquakes throughout the Azores Islands. In response, on September 2, 1958, the United States passed the Azorean Refugee Act. The Act offered protection to 1,500 Portuguese nationals who were […]
PROMOTING INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION: USCRI DELIVERS TRAINING TO UAA PROFESSORS
As part of its commitment to inclusive education, USCRI’s Welcoming Communities program delivered the course “Social Transformation and Shared Responsibility: Building Inclusive Educational Communities” at the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes (UAA) in Mexico. The course equipped professors with innovative tools and strategies to promote inclusion, interculturality, and social responsibility within the university setting—fostering the development […]
TAKING THE LEAD IN MIGRATION PREVENTION: USCRI REACHES OVER 200 STUDENTS IN EL SALVADOR
In collaboration with the Directorate of Specialized Attention to Migrants and Their Families of the District of San Salvador East, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, USCRI staff carried out a day of simultaneous talks focused on the prevention and awareness of the dangers of irregular migration. These sessions were aimed at high school students […]
FROM SYRIA TO THE CLASSROOM: A STUDENT FROM THE HABESHA PROJECT SHARES A PIECE OF HOME, HOPE, AND HERITAGE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
As part of its Cultural Week activities, the German International School in Aguascalientes welcomed Mohammed, a distinguished student from the Habesha Project, to share a glimpse of Syrian culture with the kindergarten class. During his visit, Mohammed introduced the children to his hometown in Syria, highlighted interesting linguistic connections between Arabic and Spanish, taught basic […]
FROM UNCERTAINTY TO HOPE: REFUGEE YOUTH COMPLETE SPANISH TRAINING AND BEGIN UNIVERSITY IN MEXICO
Pursuing a university degree once seemed like a distant dream for Ibrahim, Elham, Alek, Abed, Mamer, Mohammed, Adau, and Freedom. Just over a year ago, they received life-changing news: they had been selected for the Habesha Project scholarship and would soon travel to Mexico to begin a new chapter. After receiving support throughout their journey—including […]
Indignities, Discrimination, and Dehumanization in the Pursuit of Safety
Indignities, Discrimination, and Dehumanization in the Pursuit of Safety History has always privileged some migration. Migration for Europeans, by Christopher Columbus to the Native-inhabited Americas or by modern-day corporations to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is accepted and valued. Yet, the reverse is not. Quite the opposite, Black migration to Europe or the […]
USCRI Partner Agency Retreat: Strengthening Strategy, Solidarity, and Shared Purpose
On July 30–31, USCRI convened a two-day Partner Agency Retreat with 23 of the oldest and most trusted refugee resettlement organizations in the United States. This internal gathering offered space to coordinate strategy, deepen collaboration, and reaffirm our collective commitment to protecting the rights of refugees and immigrants. Day 1 opened with introductions and a […]
Centering Survivors: The Key to Preventing Human Trafficking and Holding Perpetrators Accountable
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), human trafficking is becoming more violent, more profitable, and more global. According to the UNODC, more than 200,000 individuals were identified in trafficking situations from 2020 to 2023 alone. This figure is widely understood to be a minimum estimate, as trafficking is a chronically […]
