By USCRI President and CEO Eskinder Negash As countries and international stakeholders convene at the Global Refugee Forum to talk about supporting refugees and other displaced populations, they must also confront the human rights abuses that persist worldwide. Despite the strides made since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights nearly 75 […]
Category: Policy and Advocacy
Recovering Childhood: Access to Education & Protection for Children in Kenya’s Refugee Camps
In August and September 2023, USCRI Policy Analyst Victoria Walker travelled to Kenya to visit both Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps and Kalobeyei Settlement to examine the experiences of refugee children in the camps and to assess their access to education and child protection services within the camps. This report presents key findings from the […]
Take Action: Reach out to Congress to Protect Critical Asylum Protections
Current negotiations surrounding President Biden’s proposed budget have included suggested rollbacks of critical asylum protections, such as raising the credible fear standard, increasing immigration detention, and instituting asylum caps. The White House has also indicated its willingness to limit asylum rights in exchange for humanitarian aid. USCRI is concerned about the attacks on the right to seek asylum and […]
Seeking Safety in Greece: Recounting The Asylum Seeker’s Odyssey
In June 2023, 600 people drowned in Greek waters after the fishing boat Adriana sank. Those 600 people had been fleeing their home countries in search of safety in Europe, but the Greek and Italian authorities aware of the sinking ship did not respond to the calls and pleas for help. The account of the […]
USCRI Calls on Congress to Prioritize Human Rights Amidst Budgetary Negotiations
Current negotiations surrounding President Biden’s proposed budget have included suggested rollbacks of critical asylum protections, such as raising the credible fear standard, increasing immigration detention, and removing the long-standing, Congressionally-created parole authority. Negotiations over the Fiscal Year 2024 federal budget in September included similar anti-asylum proposals that would endanger families and children fleeing violence and persecution. […]
International Volunteer Day 2023 “If Everyone Did”
International Volunteer Day is an annual celebration of volunteers worldwide. This year’s theme is “If Everyone Did”, where we are invited to imagine the power of 8 billion volunteers working together to foster inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable communities. This year, we want to highlight two incredible volunteers from our Raleigh, North Carolina office, Marci Curtis […]
Policy Brief: Let us not Forget that Asylum is a Human Right
In anticipation of Human Rights Day on December 10, Policy Analyst Aaron Nodjomian-Escajeda discusses the United States’ responsibility in upholding the rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as an original contributor and emphasizes that the right to asylum, which is currently under attack in the United States and abroad, is a fundamental […]
The 2023 Global Refugee Forum
From December 13 to 15, the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) will be held in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the largest international gathering on refugees and forcibly displaced persons, bringing together national governments, refugees, local authorities, international organizations, civil society, and members of the private sector. This is only the second GRF ever hosted. The first […]
Climate Displaced Persons Act Would Create Vital New Humanitarian Pathway
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) is pleased that the Climate Displaced Persons Act is being reintroduced in the 118th Congress by Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Rep. Nydia Velázquez of New York. Climate-related events like storms, floods, and droughts are increasingly forcing people from their homes across the world. However, many […]
November 16: International Day for Tolerance
By: Rosalind Ghafar Rogers, PhD, LMHC, Clinical Behavioral Health Subject Matter Expert with USCRI’s Refugee Health Services in Arlington, VA Societies are more diverse than ever, but intolerance is growing around the globe. Our world is currently steeped in conflict, oppression, violence, and war, all of which inflict incalculable suffering on innocent people. Sectarian […]
