Welcome to This Week at LIRS!
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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As the U.S. approaches withdrawal, our Afghan allies’ lives must be prioritized.
"The United States will undoubtedly be remembered for the last things we do as we leave Afghanistan. We have the opportunity to bookend our nation’s longest war with the world’s boldest humanitarian evacuation in modern history. It is critical that President Biden heed the growing calls of thousands of veterans, human rights groups and legislators. As the clock on withdrawal winds down, the stakes could not be clearer: Our Afghan allies’ lives, as well as our nation’s legacy, are on the line."
On Saturday, LIRS CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah published an op-ed in the Washington Post on the critical need to keep our promises and evacuate our Afghan allies immediately.
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On Tuesday, LIRS held "Our Call to Care: More Than Allies," a 30-minute roundtable discussion on the current situation in Afghanistan and state of the Special Immigrant Visa system featuring Matt Zeller, a veteran whose life was saved by his interpreter. It was a passionate, informative discussion and we invite you to check it out if you weren't able to make it.
Watch the recording.
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“Through their allegiance and faithful service, these wartime allies and their families have long been the targets of anti-American violence and persecution. The omnipresent threat of retribution, tragically, has only grown in the face of imminent U.S. withdrawal.”
LIRS CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah's Washington Post op-ed (above) was recently featured in an article on the need to evacuate our Afghan allies in Daily Kos.
Read the article.
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TAKE ACTION TODAY! Send a message to President Biden today. Urge the administration to provide urgent humanitarian protection and evacuation for our Afghan allies who have put their lives on the line for our country.
Send a message to the White House.
Download the toolkit.
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Spotlight: World Refugee Day
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World Refugee Day is June 20, but LIRS is honoring our refugee neighbors all month long! We invite you to download our World Refugee Day 2021 toolkit to learn more about refugees, to advocate for compassionate policy solutions, to share and uplift their voices, and to support the critical work of welcome.
Download the toolkit.
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At Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, it is our deepest belief that our refugee neighbors should be protected, embraced, and empowered in a world of just and welcoming communities. In honor of World Refugee Day, LIRS spoke with several former refugees about what the day means to them.
Watch the video.
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