Over the past two years, the current administration has made considerable changes to asylum and migrant processing at the southern U.S. border. Most recently, on June 4, the President issued a Proclamation on “Securing the Border,” which built upon previous regulations to effectively close the U.S.-Mexico border to asylum seekers and other migrants. Along with […]
Category: Policy and Advocacy
Celebrating Solidarity: The Refugee Team at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games
As the world gears up for the 2024 Olympic Summer Games, amidst the excitement and anticipation there is a team that stands out not just for their athletic prowess but for their remarkable journey to the games—2024 Refugee Olympic Team. A team that competes under one flag but speak different languages, a team that have […]
USCRI Webinar: The Uganda Refugee Response and Refugee-Led Organizations
On July 25, USCRI hosted a webinar to discuss the role of refugee-led organizations in the Uganda refugee response. The webinar featured Refugee Led Organization Network of Uganda’s Jerry Lukendo Mbokani, Tomorrow Vijana’s Kubana Alexis, Youth Social Advocacy Team’s John Jal Dak, and Hodari Foundation’s Janvier Hafasha. It was moderated by USCRI Policy Analyst Daniel […]
Call to Action: Tell Your U.S. Representative to Support the Rohingya GAP Act
Dear colleagues, Since October 2023, resistance forces in Myanmar have gained territorial control across different parts of Myanmar. And Myanmar’s de facto authorities have routinely punished civilians they view as supporting that opposition. This escalating armed conflict has led to deepening humanitarian need, high poverty levels, violence against civilians, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and civilian […]
Policy Report – On the Front Lines: The Uganda Refugee Response and Refugee-Led Organizations.
With 1.6 million refugees residing in its territory, the Republic of Uganda is Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country. Instability in neighboring countries, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, has created a protracted refugee situation in Uganda. With few refugees resettled in third countries and mass repatriation unlikely, hundreds of thousands of […]
Not Invisible: Strengthening Protection for Children with Disabilities in Migration and Displacement
When air raid sirens sound, a deaf child cannot hear them. When a family migrates through the Darién Gap’s jungle terrain, a blind child cannot see the way. When war erupts and a family must flee, a child in a wheelchair is left behind. When a non-verbal child arrives in a refugee camp’s reception center, […]
What is Asylum?
Asylum is a form of protection granted to individuals who have fled their home country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on specific grounds—race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Key Aspects of Asylum Protection from Persecution: Asylum seekers must demonstrate that they have suffered persecution […]
Refugee-Led Organizations: Support and Challenges in the Uganda Response
Refugee-led organizations, civil society groups formed and managed by refugees themselves, are a growing actor in displacement responses across the world. Ranging from large, professional networks to handfuls of volunteers, these groups channel their talent and past trauma into providing services, promoting livelihoods, and giving other essential support to their neighbors. But these groups face […]
Call to Action: Submit Public Comments Speaking up for Asylum Seekers
Earlier this month, the President issued a Proclamation on “Securing the Border,” which effectively closed the southern U.S. border to asylum seekers and other migrants. The proclamation limits and suspends the entry of any noncitizen into the United States across the southern border—unless they meet an exception—and went into effect on June 5, 2024. Along […]
Violence in Myanmar Intensifying Humanitarian Needs
The following was written as a blog post for InterAction by USCRI policy analyst Aaron Nodjomian-Escajeda in his role as the co-chair for InterAction’s Myanmar Bangladesh Working Group. Since October 2023, resistance forces in Myanmar have gained territorial control across different parts of Myanmar. Expanded resistance has been accompanied by increased losses for the […]
