Biden authorises new refugee funds, fends off criticism from aid groups
Washington DC/Chicago, USRNS President Joe Biden has authorised an additional $US500 million to aid refugees from Afghanistan, pushing through the funds as the White House fends off suggestions it failed a moral test to aid those fleeing the war-torn country. Biden approved the funds in a memorandum Monday to meet “unexpected urgent refugee and migration […]
Biden raises refugee ceiling, and faith-based groups brace for rebuilding work
Washington, USRNS Faith-based refugee resettlement groups are celebrating President Joe Biden’s decision to raise the number of refugees allowed into the US for the remainder of the federal fiscal year to 62,500, even as they acknowledge that they need to rebuild their capacity after years of cuts under the previous administration. The announcement from the […]
Cancelled flights, expired clearances: US refugee resettlement in limbo awaiting promised changes
RNS It’s been two months since President Joe Biden signed an executive order he said would “begin the hard work of restoring our refugee admissions program.” Part of that work was to include raising the number of refugees allowed into the United States from 15,000, a historic low set by the former president, to 125,000 in the […]
Unaccompanied children: US faith-based agencies invite volunteers, donations as they care for young people at southern border
EMILY MCFARLAN MILLER and JACK JENKINS, of Religion News Service, report on the work of faith-based agencies responding to the crisis on the southern US border…
US faith-based groups cheer, share hopes for Biden’s family reunification task force
RNS Faith-based organisations are celebrating the creation of a taskforce to help reunite separated children with their families. Those same organisations had been involved in caring for children separated from their parents at the United States-Mexico border under the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy. David Xol-Cholom of Guatemala hugs his son Byron at Los Angeles […]
US court blocks Trump executive order allowing state and local officials to refuse refugees
RNS Three faith-based refugee resettlement organizations are declaring “victory” in their court battle to block President Donald Trump’s 2019 executive order allowing state and local officials to refuse refugees. The decision came Friday as Maryland’s 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the order. Residents in support of continued refugee resettlement hold signs at a meeting […]
Lutherans ask Trump administration to admit more refugees as deadline looms
RNS Days before the deadline for the US Government to set its annual limit on the number of refugees that can be admitted to the United States, the Trump administration has not yet proposed that number, according to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, the largest faith-based organisation in the US dedicated to serving immigrants. If […]
US federal judge blocks executive order on refugees in lawsuit by three faith-based organisations
RNS A federal judge in Maryland has blocked US President Donald Trump’s recent executive order allowing state and local officials to refuse refugee resettlement. The preliminary injunction is part of HIAS v Trump, a lawsuit by three faith-based organisations against the US Government over the order. Residents in support of continued refugee resettlement hold signs […]
Most US states agree to admit refugees as judge hears lawsuit to stop resettlement order
RNS A federal judge in Maryland heard arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit by three faith-based organisations against the US Government over a recent executive order allowing state and local officials to block refugee resettlement. In the complaint filed in November, HIAS (founded as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), Church World Service and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service argue President […]
US faith groups sue Trump administration over refugee resettlement order
RNS Three US faith-based groups that assist with refugee resettlement are suing the Federal Government, arguing a recent executive order granting state and local officials the authority to block refugee resettlement violates federal law and inhibits their ability to practice their faith. HIAS (founded as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), Church World Service, and Lutheran […]