On January 20, the Administration announced an indefinite suspension of refugee resettlement starting on January 27, 2025. Refugees will be blocked from entering the country indefinitely despite having been thoroughly vetted and approved for travel. Through Executive Order “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” the Administration also announced that it will suspend decisions on […]
Category: Headquarters
Protections Extended for Individuals from El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela
On January 10, the Administration announced extensions of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible individuals from El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) applauds these extensions as a critical tool to provide stability and protection for nearly one million people whose home countries are experiencing extreme hardships including […]
USCRI Honors Former President Jimmy Carter
This week, we honor and remember former President Jimmy Carter, whose unwavering commitment to humanitarian service has left an indelible mark on our nation’s history. President Carter was a steadfast defender of forcibly displaced people and a passionate advocate for the refugee program. On March 17, 1980, he signed the 1980 Refugee Act, a landmark […]
Mental Wellness Month
By: Rosalind Ghafar Rogers, PhD, LMHC, Clinical Behavioral Health Subject Matter Expert with USCRI’s Refugee Health Services in Arlington, VA As we transition from the holidays into the new year, January, which is Mental Wellness Month, provides us the opportunity to consciously reflect, assess, recalibrate, and fortify our mental wellness, fostering resilience and holistic […]
United Nations to Conservationists: ‘Stop Displacing Indigenous Peoples’
By Alexia Gardner Photo credit: Alex Reep Before becoming a crown jewel of the conservation movement, most U.S. national parks were home to thriving Indigenous communities. The Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot lived in Acadia, while the Hopi and Navajo tribes were amongst those who called Zion their home. The founding of the National […]
Webinar: Mobility and Climate Change
To adapt to a changing environment, increasing numbers of people will be on the move. But current legal frameworks have significant protection gaps. While international refugee law has the potential to be a crucial mechanism in responding to climate displacement, it will not protect all climate-displaced individuals. There are few pathways for climate-displaced people to seek safety outside of […]
Op-Ed – Eskinder Negash: It is Not Safe to Land a Plane in Haiti, and It is Not Safe to Deport Haitians.
By Eskinder Negash Three U.S. planes landing in Port-au-Prince came under gunfire by local gangs last month. In response to the incidents, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibited U.S. airlines from landing in Haiti. Flights are now able to land in the north of Haiti, while ban remains in effect for the main airport […]
USCRI Cleveland: Reprise 2024
In October, USCRI Cleveland held its annual benefit concert, reprise, featuring international musical acts and food from Northeast Ohio’s refugee community. The event attracted over 300 guests and raised over $60,000 for the field office. Artists included Rahim AlHaj, an Iraqi oud musician and composer, and Emmanuel Jal, a South Sudanese rapper, singer, actor, activist, […]
Webinar: Addressing the Needs of Unaccompanied & Separated Children in Displacement Settings
Unaccompanied and separated children are among the most vulnerable populations affected by conflict and humanitarian crises. They face heightened risks of violence, exploitation, and neglect, with significant barriers to accessing essential services and protection mechanisms. In East Africa and surrounding subregions, children have been forced to migrate as violence, unrest, and climate shocks worsen. To […]
International Day of Tolerance
Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity. – John Hume According to UNESCO’s Declaration of Principles on […]
