Advocate (World Refugee Day)

Every day the media reports something new about refugees, immigrants, or the border—it is difficult to keep up with it all. Because of the constant changes, advocating for refugees can be a moving target. 

On World Refugee Day and in the weeks that follow, we need to keep joining our hearts and hands and voices to expand refugee welcome. As we rebuild and strengthen the refugee resettlement program and work to restore asylum protections, it is vital we hold the Administration and Congress accountable.

Good allies are also good advocates, not just with the federal government but in small ways every day. You can be a voice for welcome and a force for loving our neighbors with your school district, your local government, your work colleagues, your church and friends.

Make time between July-August to organize a team and request a meeting with your members of Congress. And use the new "tips for online meetings" to set up an effective meeting.

Let's tell President Biden:

• Prioritize rebuilding the U.S. resettlement program to resettle refugees languishing in precarious situations like at-risk Afghans, Eritreans, Syrians, Congolese, Cameroonians, Rohingya, Ethiopians, among others; and
• Make access to protection in the U.S. equitable for all nationalities. We can reform the asylum program to offer dignified welcome, protect asylum seekers and uphold our immigration laws.

Let’s urge Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act as part of the next must-pass legislation so Afghans evacuated to the U.S. can gain permanent status.

• CWS Call to Action
• Faith Partners World Refugee Day Toolkit
• Join the Welcome with Dignity coalition to restore the right to asylum in the U.S.
• PC(USA) Office of the General Assembly Refugee and Asylee Page
• PC(USA) Statement on a compassionate border
• Check out the "5 Things You Can Do" in this We Are All America Toolkit!
• UNHCR World Refugee Day Toolkit has stories, photos and more

New Affordable Housing Advocacy Resources to advocate at all levels of government!

• Local Toolkit to Advocate for Refugee & Newcomer Housing Policy Solutions that includes building blocks to advocate for change, policy recommendations for national, state, and local leaders, messaging guidance and talking points, and other resources. Here is the short link to this toolkit: http://bit.ly/RefugeeHousingAdvocacyToolkit.
• Here are policy recommendations for Members of Congress, as well as for state and local elected leaders. We’re also including a “leave behind folder” that contains resources for elected leaders to learn more about the U.S. resettlement program and housing needs:
  • Congressional Policy Asks: https://bit.ly/CongressionalHousingPolicy
  • State and Local Policy Asks: https://bit.ly/StateLocalHousingPolicy
  • Leave Behind Folder (for additional materials): https://bit.ly/HousingLeaveBehinds