It is time for hope and optimism. The will of the people through a free and fair election has been honored and we have witnessed the peaceful transition of power.
It is heartening to see that President Biden, on his first day in office, signed six executive orders relating to our issues, including halting border wall construction, rescinding the “Muslim travel ban,” and safeguarding protection for DACA recipients. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security suspended the policy requiring asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico while waiting for their U.S. court hearings.
We pledge to commit all the resources at our disposal to the new Administration's plan to undo the damage of the last four years and reform our immigration system justly and fairly.
USCRI is opening a new legal office in San Diego, CA, and an additional office just across the border, a center for asylum seekers and other immigrants in Tijuana, Mexico.
With our partner Habesha Project, we will help migrants access benefits and negotiate legal processes in both Mexico and the United States, so they can stay safe, learn their rights, and pursue their asylum claims. Law students from universities in Tijuana will assist with case preparation and refer people to services in the city.
"I'm excited about this program," says AnnaMarie Bena, USCRI Vice President. "Under this unique model, USCRI will have attorneys on both sides of the border, so we can help whether a client plans to seek asylum in the U.S. or stay in Mexico permanently. We will also work to fight xenophobia and promote acceptance of immigrants on both sides of the border."
A Refugee Shares His Cuisine in Vermont
My name is Ahmed Omar. My family arrived in Vermont in 2003 as war refugees from Somalia. After spending six years in Kenya at a refugee camp, my mom, brother, and two nieces resettled in Burlington, VT through the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program (now USCRI Vermont). I was 17 years old and found acclimating to my new home pretty tough, yet felt a sense of relief that maybe this was the place for me.
As long as I can remember, I have loved cooking. Three weeks after arriving in Vermont, I found a job at a local fast food restaurant. Over the next few years I took cooking classes, worked in catering, and enrolled in college before finally getting into culinary school. I worked my butt off over that time, and now I own my own restaurant.
Opening Kismayo, the first Somali restaurant in Burlington, is a lifelong dream. And now I can share my passion with everyone. I have seven employees and business is great. It’s been incredible to bring this cuisine from my home country to the people of this city, and it is my way of helping build and give back to the community in this place I call home.
Photo: Ahmed Omar in his restaurant, Kismayo Kitchen
Our gratitude to everyone who invested in our mission with a year-end donation! USCRI's work continues because of you. Special thanks to Latter-day Saint Charities and members of the Boston Breakthrough Academy for their generous support.
Didn't have a chance to donate yet? It's not too late! Your gift can help a family build a new life of hope and opportunity. Donate Now. Thank you!
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. It affects all types of people from every background.
Last year, USCRI helped nearly 1,500 survivors of human trafficking rebuild their lives. First, we made sure that each person had the essentials like food, clothing, a safe place to live, and access to health care. Then we provided job training, English language classes, education, and everything people needed to stabilize their lives and live independently. USCRI also holds webinars, presentations, and other training for providers across the U.S., to ensure that trafficking survivors feel safe and empowered with choice, and are treated with cultural humility.
On January 28th, USCRI will conduct a policy briefing on the impacts of COVID-19 on efforts to combat trafficking in the U.S. and Europe. The briefing is open to the public. Register here.
Hungry for Delicious Cuisine?
JoinCity Marketand USCRI Vermont each month for an online cooking demonstration by an immigrant chef. On February 10th, learn how to prepare salt fish, steamed cassava, and safou, the nutritious fruit of an evergreen tree native to Africa known as African plum, bush pear or butterfruit. Register here.
Questions? Comments? Contact us at [email protected] or (703) 310-1130.
My name is Ahmed Omar. My family arrived in Vermont in 2003 as war refugees from Somalia. After spending six years in Kenya at a refugee camp, my mom, brother, and two nieces resettled in Burlington, VT through the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program (now USCRI Vermont). I was 17 years old and found acclimating to my new home pretty tough, yet felt a sense of relief that maybe this was the place for me.
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. It affects all types of people from every background.