John,

At first, Muska Haseeb, a refugee from Afghanistan, was scared to come to America. "I cried so much on the plane," she recalls. "I didn't know anyone, didn't speak English...how was I going to integrate?"

Years later, Muska, 24, is a business owner and a premed student in Phoenix, Arizona, working toward a career in women's healthcare. She credits her mother, Haseeba, for the motivation to "climb out of the darkness" — and Mary Kaech, 36, her first American friend.

Since then, Mary shares, "Muska and her mom came to my baby shower for my first child and I celebrated birthdays and graduations with them. We went together to an iftar dinner at a mosque during Ramadan. That was fun. I learned a lot about their faith that night."

Today, John, refugee resettlement is at risk. America's longstanding, bipartisan legacy of offering safe haven to those fleeing violence, tyranny and persecution — embodied in the passage of the 1980 Refugee Act — is now under threat. This past year, the Trump administration cut the refugee admissions ceiling to just 18,000, a fifth of the historic annual average, and has only admitted around 9,000 to the U.S. this fiscal year.

Now, the President must announce the admissions level for fiscal year 2021 by September 30th. If he does not, refugee admissions will grind to a halt. A recent report by Reuters suggests that the Trump administration might do just that.

You can take immediate action to stand with refugees — like Muska — right now. It will only take a few minutes of your time:

By contacting the White House and Congress, you'll make sure that the administration and our representatives know that you want the U.S. to be a global leader in refugee protection once again.

Refugees aren't numbers. They are mothers, fathers, daughters and sons. They are our neighbors, teachers, students, employees and business owners. They are our friends.

When we welcome refugees, they change our lives for the better. They start businesses, enrich our society and culture, and become patriotic citizens.


"My life would be different and much less enjoyable if I didn't have Muska as a friend. She happily embraces my babies and they love her. Rose, my 3-year-old, thinks you're a princess."
— Mary


Welcoming refugees changes lives.

EMAIL THE WHITE HOUSE AND CALL CONGRESS:

Thank you for your urgent action today,

Melinda Frimpong
Digital Advocacy Senior Officer
International Rescue Committee


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