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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We will not stand down in our call to #SaveOurAfghanAllies.
On Thursday, July 1, LIRS joined our partners and supporters outside of the White House for our Save Our Afghan Allies rally. The event, held in partnership with IRAP, Human Rights First - Veterans for American Ideals, Association of Wartime Allies, and With Honor Action, featured remarks from Rep. Seth Moulton, as well as former Afghan interpreters, veterans, and advocates. It was simultaneously an exhilarating and sobering day, but it solidified our stance that we will not stop putting pressure on the Biden administration until every one of our Afghan allies and their family members are evacuated to safety.
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"Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, the president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, told CNN that she has 'more questions than answers' following the reports of the talks, noting it is unclear where the applicants would live, whether there is infrastructure to support the thousands of temporary residents, and how their safety will be ensured. She noted that her organization has yet to hear an official, concrete, actionable plan to protect the Afghans."
Read the article.
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TAKE ACTION TODAY! Make your voice heard and 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.
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What is the Special Immigrant Visa program (SIV), and why is it so important to evacuate our Afghan allies now? Veteran and activist Matt Zeller shares his story with LIRS and encourages viewers to support our efforts to protect those who protected our troops.
Watch the video.
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“The reports coming out of Fort Bliss are deeply troubling and simply unacceptable. As the leader of an organization that cares for unaccompanied children and emphasizes trauma-informed care, I am horrified that a contractor without childcare experience is overseeing the well-being of thousands of children." - LIRS CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah
See the statement regarding reports of abuse at Fort Bliss here.
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“The President’s failure to provide concrete details on the safe evacuation of our Afghan allies is a shameful abdication of moral responsibility. Tangible action to evacuate all 18,000 Afghan allies and their family members to Guam or another American territory, where they can safely continue their SIV process, has yet to be seen." - LIRS CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah
Read our statement on the Biden administration's lack of an evacuation plan for our allies.
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