by Ana Martínez, 2025 Welcoming Communities Program Intern at USCRI Mexico(2025) Edited by Alexia Gardner (Policy Analyst) and Anum Merchant (Policy Intern) Imagine building a life in a country for more than a decade—becoming integrated into the community and coming to consider a place home—only to be uprooted and abruptly sent somewhere that now feels like a distant memory. […]
Category: USCRI Blog
Access Changes Everything: Frank’s Story for World Hearing Day
On World Hearing Day, we recognize the importance of hearing health, early identification, and access to communication for all. Frank’s journey reminds us that hearing loss is not just a medical issue — it is a matter of access, dignity, and human rights. Frank arrived in the United States full of hope and high expectations. […]
Cultivating Peace in an Age of Despair: A Reflection from the Walk for Peace
Photos by V. Walker, 2026 By: Victoria Walker, Policy Analyst Looking around the world today it takes little effort to find distress and despair. Violence is escalating, oppression is tightening its grip on entire communities, and people are straining to push back against a current of hopelessness. What feels increasingly rare is peace. Yet […]
TURNING PERIOD POVERTY FROM STRUGGLE TO STRENGTH
By Firdaus Bashee – Country Director, USCRI Kenya and, Sudi Omar Noor Founder, Girl Power Action Initiative (GPAI) In Kakuma, thousands of girls deal with the reality of not having access to sanitary pads each month. This includes over 75,000 vulnerable teenage mothers, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), and school-aged girls who are most […]
Holocaust Remembrance Day – Remember Today’s Refugees
By Alexia Gardner, Policy Analyst, and Anum Merchant, Policy Intern In May of 1939, a boat of German Jews aboard the St. Louis pleaded for asylum in the United States. They were denied entry and returned to Europe. 254 of the passengers were later killed in the Holocaust. Rosa Seligmann was murdered at Auschwitz. Martha Scheyer was killed at Sobibor. […]
The Invisible Work That Saves Lives: Honoring Survivors Through Care, Advocacy, and Trust
By Veronica Farkas, TVAP/Aspire Case Manager My job as a Case Manager is a combination of advocacy, crisis response, and long-term support, as well as relationship building for those who have experienced severe trauma. I help survivors achieve safety, stability, and independence by connecting them to long-term housing, legal services, education, employment, and medical services. It’s rewarding to be able to […]
Defending the Right to Work: Why USCRI Called on DHS to Withdraw a Harmful Rule
In November 2025, USCRI submitted a comment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw an interim final rule (IFR) that diminishes the right to work for many immigrants, including those who are in the United States with or seeking humanitarian based protections. Below, we explain why we raised these concerns to the U.S. Government and what is at stake. In order to work legally […]
Through My Eyes: Early Reflection on Empowering Adolescent Girls in the Face of Fragility
by Sylvia Maru, Program Manager, Keep Girls Dreaming Stepping into Kakuma Refugee Camp for the first time is an experience that stays with you. The heat, the dust, the hustle and bustle, the resilience stamped into every face, and especially the young ones. I have just begun my journey with Keep Girls Dreaming here, […]
USCRI North Carolina: Fly with Me Cultural Festival
On Saturday, October 18th, over 1,000 people came together for USCRI North Carolina’s second annual Fly With Me Cultural Festival – a vibrant celebration of Afghan culture and community spirit. From delicious food and lively music to a stunning fashion show, henna art, and of course, kite flying, the day was filled with joy, connection, and […]
Reprise ’25: A Musical Celebration of Refugee Resilience and Community Spirit
Over 200 attendees came together on October 4th to celebrate an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, food, and community at Reprise ’25, USCRI Cleveland’s annual benefit. Guests enjoyed powerful performances by Bassel & The Supernaturals, U4U Band, and The Light Band, along with locally prepared dishes from refugee communities, farm tours, bonfires, henna, and yard […]
