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 […]
Category: USCRI Blog
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 […]
Finding Care Without Support in Dzaleka Refugee Camp
By: Rachel Ryu, Policy Analyst, and Adson Mphepo, Rights Activist on Unaccompanied and Separated Child Refugees Dzaleka Refugee Camp is Malawi’s largest refugee camp. Established in 1994, the camp was built on the site of a former prison to accommodate up to 12,000 refugees. At the end of 2025, it housed over 60,000 refugees, […]
War in a Fragile Region: Three Issues to Watch in the Middle East
by Will Evans, Policy Analyst As conflict escalates in the Middle East, growing numbers of civilians are being forced to flee their homes with early reports showing hundreds of thousands displaced internally in Iran and neighboring countries. Given the pace of escalation, all displacement figures cited here reflect a snapshot in time at the date of publication and will likely continue […]
At Home, a Stranger: Challenges for New Returnees in El Salvador
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. […]
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 […]
