A study¹ on forced labor by the International Labour Organization (ILO) found that profits from forced labor amount to $236 billion annually. If this number represented a country, it would be among the top third wealthiest nations in the world—on par with Qatar, wealthier than Greece, and more than two times wealthier than Kenya. This figure […]
Category: Policy and Advocacy
Afghan Family Reunification
Two and a half years ago, the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan separated countless Afghan families. Amid a rapid and frenetic evacuation effort, thousands of Afghans boarded planes leaving the Kabul airport—but untold spouses, children, parents, siblings, and other loved ones were left behind. In the months and years since, Afghan parolees have gradually received more […]
USCRI Co-Leads Call for Extension and Redesignation of Temporary Protected Status for Burma
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), TPS-DED AAC, Fortify Rights, CUSP, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice are joined by over 100 organizations to urge the Biden administration to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma. Temporary Protected Status extends work authorization and protection from removal for nationals of designated countries experiencing […]
Steps Forward. Steps Back: A Year’s Efforts to Combat the Labor Exploitation of Unaccompanied Children
This February marked one year since the New York Times published a report detailing the exploitation of hundreds of unaccompanied children for their labor across the United States. Despite the increased attention and advocacy on the issue through the year, cases of child labor have increased and unaccompanied children continue to be exploited. Child Labor […]
Myanmar’s Human Rights Crisis: In Freefall with Insufficient International Attention
Myanmar has long faced political uncertainty and turmoil. But the humanitarian crisis compounded in February 2021, when Myanmar’s military, the Tatmadaw, carried out a coup against the government—detaining civilian leaders, naming replacement ministers, and declaring a one-year state of emergency. Pro-democracy protests in major cities were met with force as the Tatmadaw immediately cracked down […]
Refugee Employment – Five Years at University Hospitals
University Hospitals has hired hundreds of USCRI Cleveland’s refugee clients over the years, training them on how to work in the kitchen and on American work culture. While many will move on from the job after a few years to proceed in a career in health care or to go back to school, some call […]
USCRI Webinar: Ukrainian Policy Update
Two years after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, violence, destruction, and violations of international law continue to create dire conditions for civilians living in Ukraine and fuel widespread displacement both in and outside of the country. On February 26, USCRI legal and policy staff hosted a webinar to discuss the latest on […]
The Welcome Corps One Year In
In January 2023, the U.S. government launched the Welcome Corps program for the private sponsorship of refugees in the United States. Through the Welcome Corps, community organizations, universities or colleges, and individual Americans can apply to sponsor refugees to relocate and resettle in the United States through the existing U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The […]
The Supplemental: Refugee-Related Considerations as Congress Navigates the Latest Funding Fight
On February 4, U.S. Senate leadership and a group of Senators released a legislative deal to provide additional, or supplemental, funding to a variety of U.S. government priorities. The proposal sparked immediate controversy for its vast changes to U.S. immigration and border policy. Early on February 13, a majority of the Senate passed a version […]
USCRI Opposes Proposed Border Deal, Urges Senators to Save Asylum
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) strongly opposes the newly unveiled deal in the U.S. Senate that would dramatically curtail the right to seek asylum in exchange for unrelated foreign assistance. “USCRI unequivocally opposes proposals that would compromise the ability of the United States to offer protections for those fleeing persecution in pursuit […]
