USCRI July 2022 Updates

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** July 2022 Newsletter
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FOR OVER 110 YEARS, ADVANCING THE RIGHTS AND LIVES OF REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS
ONE YEAR AFTER THE FALL OF KABUL,
THIS IS WHERE WE ARE
Afghan children resettled by USCRI in Cleveland, Ohio, in late 2021

Nearly a year ago, we were shocked to see the images coming out of Afghanistan as U.S. troops withdrew from the country after 20 years. The faces of despair, confusion, and hopelessness from Afghans signaled the urgency and the magnitude of what was about to come. But as we were watching these tragic scenes in real-time, we could not anticipate how the U.S. public and its government, refugee agencies, volunteers, and sponsors would react so quickly to help the more than 72,000 Afghans who were able to leave the country under the direst circumstances.

July 2021 was a month of uncertainty – but then again, every month seems to be one of uncertainty nowadays. Still, with regards to Afghans coming to the U.S., we are proud of all the hard work Americans have done in the last year to positively impact the lives of our new neighbors. We are certain in the capacity and willingness of organizations and individuals to come together at a critical time, donating their time, money, and knowledge to uplift vulnerable people, quickly and compassionately.

As our new Afghan neighbors continue to adapt and thrive in their new homes and communities, we must continue to go above and beyond in supporting them. Part of our efforts includes new offices to provide legal services, as well as new programs in our Field Offices to empower Afghan women.

Our job would not be possible without you, and the dozens of organizations and people who came up with innovative ideas to provide housing, clothes, household supplies, and meals to our Afghan neighbors. We receive your support with immense gratitude, and we look forward to assisting more newcomers.

Sincerely,

Kevin Sturtevant, CFRE
VP of Strategic Development
USCRI
OUR NEW LEGAL OFFICES ARE OPEN!
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USCRI is excited to announce that our new Legal Services offices are up and running in Denver, CO; Atlanta, GA; Detroit, MI; Austin and Dallas, TX; and Richmond, VA. The new offices are partially funded by the Transforming Afghan Lives (TAL) program and seek to assist thousands of Afghans who were evacuated from Kabul almost one year ago.

This is also an opportunity to welcome our new legal staff as they join our organization to advance the rights and lives of refugees and immigrants. We commend them for their commitment to USCRI and our new clients.

If you or someone you know is in need of legal services from our team of attorneys, please visit our website ([link removed]) to learn more about the services offered and to find the contact information of our legal offices.
USCRI President and CEO Eskinder Negash, Associate Director of Legal Services Hila Moss, VP AnnaMarie Bena, Legal Assistant Derick Walker, and Staff Attorney Zeyna Noor at our new office in Atlanta, GA, during our open house on July 18, 2022
OUR 20-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE OF THE UC PROGRAM - ISSUE 2: THE FLORES SAGA

USCRI and The Children's Village present chapter two of Where We Stand: A 20-Year Retrospective of the Unaccompanied Children's Program in the United States. The retrospective will review the Unaccompanied Children's Program from the passage of the Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002 until today. It assesses 20 years of legislation, policies, litigation, and, most importantly, the U.S. federal government's care of unaccompanied migrating children, with a view toward the next steps and improvements for the years ahead.

The second chapter looks at the Flores settlement agreement and features interviews with government staff and the Flores counsel. In this chapter, we will highlight the actions that were most critical to the Unaccompanied Children’s Program. It also covers three main areas: background on Flores v. Garland, the Flores enforcement action of 2004, and the current state of Flores.

Please click here ([link removed]) or the image below to read the second chapter!
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WEBINAR RECORDING - NEW BEGINNINGS
For World Refugee Day (WRD) this year, USCRI hosted the virtual panel New Beginnings, where former refugees had the opportunity to share with us how their personal stories led them to work for other refugees today.

If you were not able to join us, we invite you to watch the event recording below! Please stay tuned for upcoming events.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, ROSENDIN
We would like to take this opportunity to thank The Rosendin Foundation for its generous donation to USCRI. The support of our donors has made our work possible and significantly contributes to the services we are able to provide to our clients across the country.

If you or your organization are interested in connecting with us about donations, please email us at [email protected] or use the button below.
DONATE NOW ([link removed])
Laura Alloway, from The Rosendin Foundation, and USCRI VP of Strategic Development Kevin Sturtevant
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!
OUR LATEST POLICY & ADVOCACY REPORT
The policy brief included in the latest Policy & Advocacy Report looks at the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, signed by 20 heads of state from the Americas on June 10, 2022, as part of the Ninth Summit of the Americas. The Los Angeles Declaration is an important commitment by governments in the hemisphere to strengthen domestic and international protection systems and create a regional approach to managing migration.

While this is an opportunity to change course on our approach to migration, including guaranteeing access to asylum and protecting the right to non-refoulement, the U.S. commitments outlined in the Declaration will require dedicated follow through considering U.S. reliance on deterrence as a migration management tool.

Commitment on paper and commitment in practice are not the same. The lofty ideals of the Los Angeles Declaration require long-term dedication and a consistent policy towards Latin America, irrespective of changes in administration.

To read more, please click here ([link removed]) .
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USCRI, founded in 1911, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit international organization committed to working on behalf of refugees and immigrants and their transition to a dignified life.

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Copyright ©2022 U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. All rights reserved.

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
2231 Crystal Drive, Suite 350, Arlington, VA 22202
(703) 310-1130
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U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants . 2231 Crystal Drive, Suite 350 . Arlington, VA 22202 . USA