By Alexia Gardner, Policy Analyst, and Benjamin Leong, International Programs Intern (Fall and Winter 2026) Despite clear evidence of genocide in Rwanda, the United States failed to act. Today, this failure echoes. Content Note: This piece includes descriptions of violence and atrocities related to the Rwandan Genocide, including firsthand accounts from a former staff member who was in Rwanda for […]
Category: Headquarters
World Health Day 2026: Together for Health. Stand with Science. Stand with Refugees.
This World Health Day, USCRI’s Refugee Health Services (RHS) recognizes the vital role of science and the communities that bring it into practice every day. This year’s theme, “Together for health. Stand with science.” reflects our mission: connecting evidence-based public health guidance with the lived experiences, strengths, and leadership of refugee and immigrant communities. […]
Carrying Hope: How One Woman Rebuilt Her Future After Leaving Afghanistan
In May 2023, a 21-year-old woman stepped off a plane in Vermont with her parents and two brothers, carrying little more than hope and a deep sense of responsibility. Hasina had come from Afghanistan, leaving behind not only her homeland but also the people who shaped her childhood. What she misses most are the simple, […]
Statement – One Year On: Advancing the Promise of Kenya’s Shirika Plan
One year ago, Kenya took a bold and necessary step toward transforming its refugee response through the launch of the Shirika Plan. This landmark initiative signaled a shift away from encampment toward inclusion, resilience, and shared prosperity, recognizing that refugees are not passive beneficiaries of aid but active contributors to a country and its communities. The protracted displacement crisis in Kenya requires an inclusive and […]
Policy and Advocacy Newsletter: VOLUME 9 | ISSUE NO.7 March 26, 2026
Featured Brief On June 4, 2025, the Trump administration issued a travel ban suspending the entry of nationals from 19 countries. Unlike travel bans during the first Trump administration, this travel ban barred the entry of follow-to-join asylee families, many of whom have spent years apart under the stress of uncertainty. When we realized that […]
No Shelter: India’s Selective Abandonment of its Refugees
By: Anum Merchant, USCRI Policy Intern (Winter 2026) Edited by Alexia Gardner, Policy Analyst In 1947, millions of people crossed the borders between the newly independent India and newly formed state of Pakistan. The Partition would become the largest mass migration in human history, and one of the most violent as well. On both […]
No Two Hands Sign the Same
In recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we want to share a story from USCRI Vermont that stayed with us — one that reshaped how we think about language, disability, and what it truly means to welcome someone. When we learned that a young client from Northern Africa would be arriving in the United […]
Indefinite Separation – What Asylee Families Are Facing
In this policy brief, we share with you the experiences of 25 families from Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Cuba. They represent countless children, spouses, and parents. They are fathers who have yet to meet their sons in person. They are wives who face gender apartheid who have lived as a de facto single parent for years. [...]
Happy Social Work Day!
Every day, USCRI social workers stand alongside refugees and immigrants as they rebuild their lives, navigate complex systems, and find safety and stability in new communities. Their compassion, dedication, and advocacy make this work possible. We celebrate the people who show up each day to support others and strengthen communities. “Social work is deeply […]
Anniversary of The Refugee Act
March 17 marks the 46th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, which has helped make it possible for more than 3 million refugees to find safety in the United States, including over 400,000 welcomed by USCRI. Behind every number is a story of resilience, courage, and hope for a better future. As we reflect […]
