The latest on LIRS news, upcoming events, media mentions, and more.
** Welcome to This Week at LIRS!
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Every week, we catch you up on what's new at LIRS—from upcoming events to media appearances, important immigration updates, and more.
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"President Biden has reaffirmed what so many Americans have long known – refugees are welcome here and are a blessing to our communities. The new admissions ceiling reflects our core values as a welcoming nation, and finally aligns public policy with the unprecedented global need of millions forced from their home by violence, war, and persecution.
– LIRS CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah
On Monday, President Biden announced that he will officially raise the refugee admissions ceiling for Fiscal Year 2021 to 62,500 – a significant increase from the record-low 15,000 set by the previous administration. The move has been described as a “down payment” on the Biden administration’s stated goal of ramping up to 125,000 refugee admissions in Fiscal Year 2022.
At LIRS, we had long been calling for the increase, and were relieved and energized by the announcement. Our CEO, Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, spoke with many news outlets about the Biden administration's move and what's next for refugee resettlement in the United States, including:
* Washington Post ([link removed])
* Associated Press ([link removed])
* Reuters ([link removed])
* CNN ([link removed])
* Politico ([link removed])
* ABC News ([link removed])
* HuffPost ([link removed])
* Roll Call ([link removed])
* Religion News Service ([link removed])
LIRS stands ready and willing to work with our network and partners to restore welcome to the United States. Join us. ([link removed])
In honor of Mother's Day, LIRS CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah sat down with her daughter Alana to read Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey ([link removed]) , a fantastic story about resettlement and reunion by Amy Shrodes and Doug Kuntz. Spoiler alert: It's very, very cute.
Watch the video. ([link removed])
For Mother's Day, LIRS recognizes, too, the incredible moms that support immigrant and refugee kids—from the mothers forced to leave their homes to protect their children to the foster moms who take care of unaccompanied kids until they can be reunited with their familes. CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah celebrates them all in an op-ed for the Baltimore Sun.
Read the op-ed ([link removed]) .
TAKE ACTION! The Guaranteed Refugee Admissions Ceiling Enhancement Act, or GRACE Act, would protect and restore the U.S. resettlement program by setting a minimum refugee admissions goal of 125,000 and increasing congressional oversight over the administration's operations of the resettlement program. Ask your legislator to restore the U.S.’s role as a global humanitarian leader by passing the GRACE Act.
Contact your Congressperson. ([link removed])
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On Thursday, LIRS Culture Kitchen returned with a special Mother's Day episode featuring Virginia Ali and her daughter-in-law Vida of DC's famous Ben's Chili Bowl. While cooking a tasty Trinidadian curry, Vida, Virginia, Krish, and her daughter Alana discussed feel-good food, social justice, and the complexity of the immigrant experience.
Watch the video. ([link removed])
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LIRS is excited to invite you to our first annual Stand Up, Speak Up program. Together with interfaith communities across the country, we are lifting a unified voice to welcome and advocate for immigrants and refugees coming to the United States. Our goal is to focus less on the differences that can separate us—our faith backgrounds, ethnicities, and countries of origin—and demonstrate that our commonalities—compassion, love, and humanity—are what unify us.
Download the toolkit. ([link removed])
** Coming Up
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On Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 7 p.m. ET, LIRS joins Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area and the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area for a virtual Refugee Town Hall with featured guest, Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD).
Register today. ([link removed])
Join LIRS on May 23 at 4 p.m. ET for our first annual Stand Up, Speak Up Spring Vigil. Together with hundreds of interfaith communities across the country, we will examine our roles as compassionate friends and justice-seekers through prayer, reflection, and stories from migrant and refugee families.
Register today. ([link removed])
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE ([link removed]) to our YouTube channel!
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