June 20th is World Refugee Day, a day in which we honor refugees, celebrate their contributions in their new homes, and hold the Trump administration accountable to rebuilding the resettlement program it has decimated. As faith leaders across traditions, we join in solidarity with our refugee neighbors, in the United States and abroad, recognizing their courage and resilience as they start new lives.
Refugees
339 faith-based organizations and 1,356 faith leaders from all fifty states, plus DC, are issuing an open letter to policymakers at all levels, demanding an end to anti-immigrant policies put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter comes on the same day that a proposed rule to completely gut the asylum system is being published in the Federal Register.
“Dramatically cutting legal immigration has been the signature goal of this administration, since the very first Muslim and refugee ban it chaotically implemented in January 2017,” said Faith Williams, Associate Director of Government Relations and Advocacy with the National Council of Jewish Women and Co-Chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC). “Trump and Stephen Miller would never miss an opportunity to exploit a national emergency in service of their xenophobic agenda. This is a shanda, a disgrace.”
224 faith-based organizations and 1,025 faith leaders sent a letter to the Trump administration, Congress, and Governors, telling them that “immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers must be included in our emergency response [to COVID-19] if we are to assist everyone who is in need.” The organizations and individuals span forty-six states plus the District of Columbia.