By: Cheryl Zhang, USCRI Policy and Advocacy Intern (Summer 2026) In the weeks following the end of July 2026, the media has been flooded with pictures and videos of tens of thousands of migrants swimming from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on the North African coast. However, the accompanying narratives of “invasion” are not only unfounded, but alarmist, harmful, and politically polarized. They are part of a broader effort to use [...]
By: USCRI Policy & Advocacy Intern (Summer 2026) Edited by William Evans, Policy Analyst In February 2026, when the U.S.-Iran War first broke out, military and geopolitical dimensions of the conflict immediately became the center of international attention. Public debate and discussion revolved around the issue of strategic considerations, stability, and possible escalation into wider [...]
Today, USCRI is proud to launch Their Future, Their Voice: Centering Displaced Children in Global Protection and Policy, a new report elevating the perspectives, experiences, and leadership of children and young people living through displacement. READ THE REPORT At a time when displacement remains at historic levels and pathways to safety are shrinking, children continue […]
Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwestern Kenya is home to over 300,000 refugees. For the unaccompanied girls living there, daily life means navigating hunger, exploitation, and the near-constant threat of child marriage and violence. Drastic cuts to humanitarian funding have stripped away basic services, leaving some of the most vulnerable children without food, school supplies, or menstrual hygiene products. USCRI Kenya's Keep [...]
Since our last newsletter, the Policy & Advocacy team has continued to spotlight urgent refugee and immigration issues through research, advocacy, and public engagement. The team collaborated with USCRI’s Refugee Health team to emphasize the importance of strong health coverage through Refugee Medical Assistance. We issued a statement urging DHS to withdraw a proposed rule that would effectively halt asylum seekers’ access to work permits. The […]
By: Victoria Walker, USCRI Policy Analyst With thanks to Gaspard Atibu, Chairman of the Legal Refugee Center (LRC) and to the LRC Burundi Team for informing this reporting. LRC is a nonprofit humanitarian organization founded in April 2023 in the United States by a former Burundian refugee. Operating in Burundi, Tanzania, South Africa, and Ghana, […]
On May 1, USCRI Latin America and the Caribbean, together with the Shapiro Foundation, launched a new call for Habesha Project applications, reaffirming a shared commitment to support refugees as they rebuild their lives through higher education. At a time when opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers are shrinking globally, access to education remains one of the strongest pathways to long-term stability, […]
As Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and International Law, Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman steered the 1980 Refugee Act through the House of Representatives, partnering with Senator Ted Kennedy to drive the bill to final passage. The landmark legislation fundamentally reshaped American immigration law, allowing the United States to welcome more than three […]
As refugees begin rebuilding their lives in the United States, access to reliable medical coverage is essential to give them the best chance at success. The 2025 reduction of Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) from 12 months to four months undermines refugees’ ability to achieve medical stability, economic self-sufficiency, and successful integration, while increasing long-term public costs. In [...]
By: Victoria Walker, Policy Analyst On April 29, 2026, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will go before the U.S. Supreme Court. On paper, the case may appear to be another set of briefs, another date on the calendar, but for hundreds of thousands of people living in the United States under TPS, this moment could mean […]
