Representative Gerry Connolly was a lifelong public servant, a steadfast advocate for human rights, and a tireless champion for refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants. Before his distinguished career in Congress, Representative Connolly served as Executive Director of the U.S. Committee for Refugees, where he helped shape policies and programs to protect people displaced by war […]
Category: Headquarters
Administration Revokes Protections for Venezuelans
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) is dismayed by the Administration’s revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela. Just weeks ago, on January 10, 2025, an extension for TPS was announced, and on January 17, 2025, it was published to the Federal Register—only to be abruptly rescinded. TPS is a lifesaving humanitarian […]
Defining “Refugees”—An Exclusionary Legacy
International organizations were born in the aftermath of devastating world wars. Nations set up international institutions and covenants, seeking to never repeat the devastation arising out of those wars. But first, they had to tackle an unprecedented mass displacement crisis. Due to warfare, destruction, and persecution, millions of people were driven out of their homes. […]
Termination of Protection Endangers Afghan Allies
The May 12 announcement from the Administration to terminate protections for Afghans is a betrayal of those who put their lives on the line to defend the United States and a failure to recognize the dire conditions in Afghanistan that threaten the lives of many. On May 13, the Administration published an official notice to […]
Isolationism—What It Means for Refugees in Africa’s Central Sahel
In the past five years, three countries in the Central Sahel—Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—have undergone transformative political changes. All three countries are now led by military juntas. In January 2025, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso formally withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional economic bloc. ECOWAS also has a […]
Sexual Violence: A Weapon of War in Sudan
On April 15, 2025, Sudan entered its third year of war. The following snapshot uses information from USCRI’s April 2025 Sudan Situation Update, as well as information as of April 28, 2025. * The following snapshot contains descriptions of sexual violence. Read with care. In under two years, the number of people at risk of […]
For Lesbians, No Refuge in the Refugee Camp
In many places, love is persecuted: 65 countries criminalize same-sex relationships. Lesbians are particularly the target of cruelty: they are often hated both for being women and for being gay. Fearing torture, internment, and even death, many seek freedom elsewhere, leaving their lives and communities behind in hopes of finding safety. Refugee camps are meant […]
Children in Sudan
On April 15, 2025, Sudan entered its third year of war. The following snapshot uses information from USCRI’s April 2025 Sudan Situation Update, as well as information as of April 24, 2025. Children in Sudan are bearing some of war’s deepest scars. Over 6.5 million children are displaced, and they have suffered two years of […]
Backgrounder: Sahrawi Refugees and Western Sahara
Who are the Sahrawi People? The Sahrawi people are a primarily nomadic cultural and ethnic group of Arab and Amazigh (also known as Berber) descent. Many Sahrawi people trace their lineage to Beni Hassan Arabs, who settled in North Africa between the 11th and 14th centuries. They share cultural ties with other ethnolinguistic groups in […]
Humanitarian Needs in Sudan
On April 15, 2025, Sudan entered its third year of war. The following snapshot uses information from USCRI’s April 2025 Sudan Situation Update, as well as information as of April 21, 2025. Humanitarian Needs 30.4 million people need humanitarian assistance in Sudan—over 15 million are children. Communities have been destroyed, health services have collapsed, famine […]
