U.S COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS
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USCRI Honors Pope Francis

Today, USCRI reflects on the life and papacy that Pope Francis dedicated to the world’s most marginalized people, including refugees and migrants. Pope Francis was elected in 2013 and became the first pope from the Americas. His first trip as Pope was to the Sicilian Island of Lampedusa, where he met with newly arrived migrants […]

Sudan’s War, the World’s Silence

Today marks two years since war began in Sudan, plunging the country into one of the world’s most devastating and overlooked humanitarian crises. What began on April 15, 2023, as clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has spiraled into an unabating war that has created the largest […]

Over 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans are Stripped of Protection

On March 25, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) categorically revoked humanitarian parole protections for individuals covered under the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan parole program (CHNV parole). This announcement leaves over 530,000 CHNV humanitarian parolees without status in the United States and at risk of deportation, starting April 24. “Humanitarian parole” allows individuals outside […]

The Refugee Act of 1980: Needed Now More Than Ever

The Refugee Act of 1980 was born from bipartisan efforts to respond to the needs of victims of persecution, creating a pathway for them to become an American. A landmark piece of legislation, it fundamentally shaped U.S. refugee policy. The Act defined a refugee as someone with a ‘well-founded fear of persecution’ and established a […]

Refugees Protest Inhumane Conditions in Kakuma

Refugees close to starvation are protesting for their very survival. Cuts to aid have led to catastrophe in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp—home to nearly 300,000 refugees. In recent days, refugees in Kakuma staged peaceful protests demanding access to food, water, and shelter—the necessities for survival. Protests turned violent when the Kenyan police intervened, deploying live […]

Rollback of Policies Protecting Critical Community Spaces

On January 20, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a directive rescinding “sensitive” zone policies, which have long shielded schools, hospitals, houses of worship, and other critical spaces from immigration enforcement actions. These policies have ensured that individuals—regardless of their immigration status—can access education, healthcare, and religious services without fear. Their removal not […]

The Administration Suspends Humanitarian Protection Programs

On January 28, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) took the first steps in implementing the Administration’s executive order directing the termination of all categorical humanitarian parole programs. “Humanitarian parole” allows individuals outside of the United States to enter the United States on a temporary basis due to an urgent humanitarian need, such as a […]

U.S. Department of State Abandons U.S. Responsibility for Safely Resettling Refugees

On January 24, the U.S. Department of State ordered the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants to stop all work performed under its Reception and Placement grant for refugee resettlement. Other organizations received similar notices. This “stop work” order from the State Department is a devastating development for refugees who are already in the United […]

USCRI Summary of January 20 Executive Orders

On January 20, 2025, the White House released a series of Executive Orders that regress the immigration system with immediate impact on refugees and immigrants. The new orders display a renouncement of the United State’s role as a stronghold of safety and protection for the displaced. The following is a summary of six Executive Orders […]

USCRI Concerned About Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, Urges the Administration to Prevent Climate-Induced Displacement

The Administration’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement will exacerbate the climate emergency. As temperatures rise and large swathes of land become unhabitable, more and more people will be driven from their homes, forced to seek safety elsewhere. For the increasing numbers of people who will find themselves fleeing climate-related environmental disasters, there […]