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 […]
Category: Policy and Advocacy
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 […]
USCRI Webinar: The Impact of Proposed Changes to the Asylum System on Survivors of Human Trafficking
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, yet in this month dedicated to raising awareness for and preventing human trafficking, we are seeing lawmakers bargain away essential protections for survivors. Currently, lawmakers in Congress are engaged in ongoing negotiations, which have pitted the rights of asylum seekers against short-term funding for crises such as the war […]
National Mental Wellness Month
January is National Mental Wellness Month. So, what is mental wellness and how does it differ from mental health? Mental health mostly pertains to our brain’s health and our overall functioning, whereas mental wellness is a broader term that covers all aspects of mental, emotional, social, and psychological stability and healthy functioning, recognizing the integrated […]
Trafficking Survivors Lost in the Funding Debate’s Asylum Stipulations
In October 2023, the Biden Administration requested emergency supplemental funding for short-term foreign aid, including support to Ukraine. This request came near the end of the month, as budget talks to fund the federal government and avoid a government shutdown recommenced with the first funding bill, or continuing resolution (CR), of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 […]
Human Trafficking Prevention Month: Common Myths About Human Trafficking
Whether it is a movie depicting glamorized versions of victims and pimps or a recent TikTok trend that presents human trafficking as solely a snatch and grab scenario, the public receives conflicting and confusing information about human trafficking. Since the public plays a major role in the identification and reporting of suspected human trafficking, it […]
Human Trafficking Prevention Month: What is Labor Trafficking?
Human trafficking is the buying or selling of people for labor or sex. Nearly all trafficking stems from some sort of vulnerability. Human traffickers often target disadvantaged individuals with the fewest legal and social protections, exploiting their economic hardships, lack of education, or immigration status. The lack of legal status of many migrants leaves them […]
