Washington, DC – As we approach World Refugee Day on June 20th, faith-based organizations from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition are calling on the U.S. government and our communities to remember our moral and legal commitments to people forced to leave their homelands. Our ancient sacred texts call us to this work, reminding us that we are to welcome the sojourner in our midst as we once were sojourners, too. For decades, faith communities have responded to this call by serving on the front lines—providing shelter; offering basic necessities like food and clothing; and connecting our new neighbors with housing and legal services, mental health support, and other vital resources.
This year, the UNHCR reminds us that there is “Hope Away from Home” for those who are persecuted and forced to flee. On this World Refugee Day, as the world faces an unprecedented and growing crisis of forced displacement and with ongoing efforts from the Biden administration and Congress to limit asylum protections at the border, it is more important than ever to support refugee inclusion and spread a message of welcome. Less than 1% of refugees are ever resettled to a third safe country, such as the U.S.; the majority are received by countries that are often struggling economically themselves.
As people of faith, we call on Congress and the administration to do everything in their power to fund and support service providers in an effort to create a more robust and humane system to welcome refugees and asylum seekers. On this World Refugee Day, we honor the many refugees and asylum seekers who have found safety in the U.S. and we are grateful to them for their willingness to put their hope and trust in our nation. May we live up to it.
Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins, Director of Advocacy of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., said: “We know that the refugee journey to safety can be difficult and complicated. The majority of the world’s refugees are welcomed by neighboring countries where they remain for years or even permanently. Others must continue their journey until they can find a new country to call home. How refugees and asylum seekers are welcomed at each encounter matters. Even as we recommit ourselves to opening our hearts and homes to refugees and asylum seekers in the U.S., we give thanks for all the governments, faith communities and civil society organizations who are the first conveyors of welcome – at the U.S. border and borders around the world. We must remember that we are only able to welcome these new neighbors into our communities and lives because of others who did not turn them away, but welcomed them first.”
“We celebrate World Refugee Day, and in particular the contributions of refugees, to help build up and improve the countries that accept them. Refugees are people fleeing the violence and disruption of wars, terrorism, earthquakes, floods, as well as hate toward religious, political, gender groups, and other intolerance. Both international and U.S. law recognize their claims as something that must be honored. Unitarian Universalists honor the inherent worth and dignity of all people and have long been committed to helping refugees find safety. We side with love in this matter, we side with welcoming the stranger,” said Pablo DeJesús, Executive Director of Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice. “It is sad to note that historically the U.S. has not accepted as many refugees as smaller countries, and that in recent years, it has slowed the reception to very low numbers. So, we praise communities of faith and civil society for doing the work of welcoming – at the U.S. border and across the globe. We thank those governments that have partnered in that work. And we ask officials in the U.S., and around the world, to follow the lead of so many faiths—our Unitarian Universalist tradition among them—to welcome refugees with humility, dignity, and respect. For us that is the right and true way of being, in community, with the sacred.”
“Our mission as a faith-based organization is to accompany, serve, and advocate for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons,” said Joan Rosenhauer, Executive Director of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA. “As we accompany those forced to flee from their homes, we come to know their stories and become aware of their dreams and hopes. We recognize that what is so often missing from the conversation around the U.S.’s response to refugees and asylum seekers are these stories of hope, these stories of individuals and families who are seeking a place where they can contribute and thrive as a community. On this World Refugee Day, we urge our government and community leaders to listen to these stories, to continue welcoming those who have been forced to flee from their homes, and to provide robust services that result in thriving and inclusive communities.”
“The message of World Refugee Day is especially crucial this year, as we reflect not only on the millions of individuals and families who have been forced to flee their homes, but also on the ways that those in power continue to harm, exclude, and marginalize those who have sacrificed so much in order to seek safety,” said Rev. Noel Andersen, National Field Director at Church World Service. “For decades, faith communities have shown what it means to support those who have been displaced through service, shelter, and advocacy. We call on our leaders to do the same; we demand accountability from our decision makers to keep the promise of a compassionate welcome through creating the policies, infrastructure, and funding needed for humane reception.”
“On World Refugee Day, we honor the resilience and courage of refugees and celebrate their contributions to our communities. The best way to honor and celebrate these refugees is by taking action to make the U.S. a more welcoming place for all those seeking safety,” said Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. “As a Jewish community, one that is made up in part of immigrants, refugees, and the descendants thereof, with a long history of sojourning in foreign lands, we are particularly sensitive to ensuring that the rights of refugees and asylum seekers are protected by our nation’s immigration policies. On World Refugee Day and every day, we encourage Congress and the Biden administration to expand refugee resettlement, restore asylum, and welcome those seeking refuge on our shores.”
“This World Refugee Day we celebrate the dignity of all those who are in pursuit of peace and security away from their home country. Those seeking asylum and protected status have often had to live at the whims of politics and changing administrations,” said Rev. Kendal L. McBroom, Director of Civil and Human Rights of the United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society. “As United Methodists, our Book of Resolutions speaks strongly on the need for people and congregations to welcome the sojourner in their midst, just as the sacred scriptures and Holy Spirit call us to do. Furthermore, we call on governments and nations to offer policies of welcome and hospitality to those seeking shelter and protection. This World Refugee Day, in the Spirit of the UNHCR theme ‘Hope away from Home,’ let’s lift up the lives and legacy of refugees and act via action alerts and advocacy.”
“Refugees challenge us to reflect on our shared human resilience and determination to live with dignity and safety. What are we doing to ourselves when our policies deny a refugee a safe and dignified space?” said Susan Gunn, Director, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns.
“Remembering refugees and asylum seekers this World Refugee Day is not enough as long as they continue to live in unsafe conditions and continue to feel the emptiness of disinterest and the sting of the unwanted,” said Fran Eskin-Royer, Executive Director of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. “All people, regardless of circumstance or color, deserve respect by virtue of their precious humanity. But only the lucky few are born in wealthy countries that offer the opportunity to pursue dreams. God did not condemn the others; we are all equal in dignity. But those born in the U.S. had the luck of the draw. With that luck, with our freedom, with our wealth, with the acknowledgement that we are all equal in value and all deserve support – it is incumbent on us to offer true welcome to those forced to flee their homelands. Our Catholic faith calls us to welcome and offer safe harbor. The National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd calls on Congress and President Biden to expand our welcome and fund a more humane reception system.”
“On World Refugee Day we honor refugees and advocate on their behalf, but we must remember that every day people are displaced within their own countries or forced to seek refuge in other countries,” said Sr. Marie Lucey, Associate Director of Franciscan Action Network. “Forced displacement due to war, violent conflicts, persecution, famine, or climate crisis is increasing globally. It is urgent that the Biden Administration and Congress act to welcome refugees and asylum seekers, not continue efforts to turn families and individuals away from finding safety in this country. As a Christian, I have to ask: what if Jesus, Mary, and Joseph had been turned away when they fled to Egypt to escape a murderous tyrant? And what action am I taking to help support refugees and honor the many contributions they make when they are resettled? As Franciscans, we must see all people as siblings and take action to welcome those who seek refuge in this country.”
“On World Refugee Day, we are reminded that our arms must remain open to welcome people fleeing violence or seeking a better life,” said Jody Rabhan, Chief Policy Officer at National Council of Jewish Women. “As Jews, we are commanded by the Torah to welcome the stranger, for we were once strangers in the land of Egypt — we have a moral obligation to care for each other. The world continues to confront a dire refugee crisis, with historic levels of people being displaced. And while over the past decade children have made up nearly half of all people forced to flee their homes, the U.S. has dramatically reduced the number of refugees resettled in our country — reaching the lowest number in modern history. Our leaders and communities must reject xenophobia and racism and recognize our shared humanity. When our nation opens its doors, our families, communities, schools, and congregations thrive. Lawmakers must commit to accepting more refugees and fully funding programs that support their resettlement.”
“As Catholics, we are all called to protect the oppressed and welcome the foreigner,” said Cynthia Gonzalez, US Advocacy Coordinator for the Missionary Society of St. Columban. “May this World Refugee Day remind us all that every refugee coming to our communities deserves to be welcomed as our sibling. May we all accept Pope Francis’ invitation to ‘Welcome, Protect, Promote and Integrate’ all asylum seekers and refugees. On this day, we ask Congress and the Biden administration to welcome those seeking refuge by passing comprehensive immigration reform, restoring the access to asylum and expanding refugee resettlement.”
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants. Follow us on Twitter at @interfaithimm.
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