i nterfaithimmigration.org - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

interfaithimmigration.org

Call and Webinar will begin on Monday, June 15th at 4 p.m. ESTFor audio, please dial 805-399-1000 and enter access code 104402Audio Visual Link is at http://join.me/faith4immigration

Slide2

Agenda

4:00 Welcome 4:05 World Refugee Day & Refugee Community Advocacy Week4:12 Syrian refugee crisis & advocacy push4:20 Central American children & families4:27 The Strengthening Refugee Resettlement Act & Social Media around World Refugee Day4:35 Upcoming Legislation, Refugee Funding & The White House Task Force on New Americans4:42 Civic Engagement

4:50 Questions, Brainstorming & Sharing Ideas

Slide3

World Refugee Day

WRD is a perfect time to:Build positive relationships with your policy makersInfluence funding and policies for refugee resettlementFind & energize local advocatesIt’s easy to incorporate these goals into what you’re already planning for World Refugee Day!

Slide4

www.rcusa.org/wrd2015

Slide5

Faith World Refugee Day Materials

5

www.interfaithimmigration.org/2015/06/05/religious-holiday-resources

Refugee Council USA 2015 Advocacy Toolkit

Church World Service: Refugee Resources

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service: Refugee Sunday Resources

Episcopal Church: Refugee Resources

US Conference of Catholic Bishops: Prayer for Migrant Families

USCCB: Migrant and Refugee Children Resource

USCCB: A Prayer for Migrant Children

Slide6

“Speech!” “Photo Op!”

Invite policy makers to your event! Ask them to give a speech, kick off the event with opening remarks, introduce a refugee, present awards, conduct a citizenship pledge, etcSend photos from your event to your local politicians to educate them & encourage them to attend next year!Share photos with your advocacy staff too, so we can encourage members of congress to be champions for refugees.

Slide7

Make an announcement!

Ask everyone to call congress – right now! all together! Have attendees sign up for your organization’s advocacy alertsSet up a table for writing or signing letters thanking a policy maker or asking them to be a champion for refugeesUse momentum from the event to start or grow an advocacy team!Make it easy! Modify the sample advocacy flyer in the WRD Advocacy Toolkit

Slide8

Refugee Community Advocacy Week: Local congressional visits June 29 – July 6

Work with refugees, case managers, volunteers, employers, board members, etc. to put a team together and request a meeting with your Senators and Representatives – or their staff - when they are in their home offices between June 29 – July 2You can educate them about who refugees are, how your community welcomes refugees, and ask them to:Co-sponsor The Protecting Religious Minorities Persecuted by ISIS Act HR 1568Oppose legislation that would reduce protections for unaccompanied childrenEnsure the refugee program is robustly funded and reformed in positive ways through the Domestic Refugee Resettlement Reform and Modernization Act, HR 1784

and S. 883

and the

Strengthening Refugee Resettlement Act,

HR 651

, soon to be reintroduced from last Congress

This is a great opportunity to share photos from your World Refugee Day events and invite them to attend next year!

See the easy how-to guide in RCUSA’s WRD Advocacy Toolkit at

www.rcusa.org/wrd2015

Slide9

Syrian Refugee Crisis:

Update From the RegionThere are now 4 million Syrian refugees as the Syrian conflict enters its fifth year. 75% of these refugees are women and children.The vast majority of Syrian refugees are “urban refugees,” meaning that they do not live in refugee camps.Protection space in the region is shrinking by the day. Countries of first asylum for Syrians, including Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt have essentially closed their borders. Turkey continues welcoming Syrians but their national systems are overwhelmed.Refugees are often prohibited from working legally or greatly limited to do so; they lack shelter, food, water, and health care; and, many Syrian refugee children are not able to attend school.RCUSA trip report: At the Breaking Point: Refugees in Jordan and Egypt

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops trip report:

Refuge and Hope in the Time of ISIS

.

Slide10

Syrian Refugee Crisis: Key Recommendations

United States should resettle at least 65,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2016, increasing the PD to 100,000Maintain secure processing but eliminate delays and redundancies in security checks.Identify specific refugees for group processingExpand family reunification opportunities to allow Syrians in in the U.S. to file affidavits of relationship (AORs) even if they did not arrive as refugees

Slide11

Protecting Religious Minorities Persecuted by ISIS Act, H.R. 1568

Bipartisan: introduced by Representatives Vargas (D-CA-51), Rooney (R-FL-17), Conyers (D-MI-13), Hunter (R-CA-50). Now 21 bi-partisan co-sponsors.Reaffirm U.S. refugee protection policy of supporting refugees in host countries to allow those who are able and willing to return home and rebuild when peace comes.Help Syrian & Iraqi refugees facing gender-based violence and religious and ethnic minorities.Open more processing entities, increase staff, maintain strong security while streamlining security process, expand video interviewing, and improve accountability and transparency.

Slide12

Children and Families Fleeing Violence in Central America

In FY 2014, a record 68,445 families with children 68,541 unaccompanied childrenfrom Central America sought safety in the U.S., continuing an increasing trend from the previous four fiscal years

Slide13

Arrivals of Families and Children: Update

Arrivals of Unaccompanied ChildrenFY14 (Q1 and Q2): 28,579Fy15 (Q1 and Q2): 15,647Change: -45%Arrivals of Families FY14 (Q1 and Q2): 19,830Fy15 (Q1 and Q2): 13,911Change: -30%

Slide14

Administrative Response to Arrival of Families

The Administration began imposing “no release” policies and quickly expanded the use of family detention to 3,700 planned family detention beds, an increase from 100 family detention beds in May 2014.

Slide15

Harmful Legislation

H.R. 1149-The Protection of Children Act of 2015rolls back TVPRA protectionschanges definition of UACH.R. 1153-the Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act erects additional barriers to asylum reduces TVPRA protectionsexpands child immigration detentionlimits access to due protection and the asylum process

Slide16

Congressional Asks to help Families

from Central AmericaEnd Family DetentionThere is no humane way to detain childrenThese are refugeesAsk Members to:Make floor speechesReach out to the Administration (White House and DHS)

Slide17

Congressional Asks to help Children from Central America

Oppose bills like H.R.1149, the "Protection of Children Act" and H.R.1153 the "Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act" which would rollback the bipartisan Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008. The TVPRA passed both chambers of Congress unanimously and was signed into law by President Bush to reduce the likelihood that the U.S. would deport children back into the hands of traffickers and others who would exploit them. These children and families are escaping gang violence, sexual and gender-based violence, forced recruitment, domestic abuse, and trafficking. Current process that allow them to seek protection should not be eroded.

Slide18

The Strengthening Refugee Resettlement Act

If enacted, this bill would:Admit refugees as Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders)Expand case management and employment and integration servicesCreate a domestic resettlement emergency fund and help with secondary migrationRCUSA World Refugee Day Virtual Town Hall featuring Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-5)June 16th at 6:00pm EST

Call-in number: 559.726.1200 Passcode: 489579

Please RSVP at

www.tinyurl.com/WRD2015

or contact Elizabeth.Mandelman@hias.org

18

Slide19

World Refugee Day

TwitterchatThursday, June 18th3pm ETFollow and use hashtag #refugeechat to participate

Help spread the word!

Circulate graphic

 via Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, and websites.

Invite followers to submit questions in advance

 to @

RefugeeAssist

using #

refugeechat

. No Twitter account? Submit questions via Facebook message to the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project Facebook page using #

refugeechat

.

19

Slide20

World Refugee DaySocial Media

Make sure to use the hashtag #WRD2015Visit http://www.rcusa.org/wrd2015 for more resources and information on WRD events happening around the country.20

Slide21

Other Refugee Legislationsoon to be re-introduced!

Domestic Refugee Resettlement Reform & Modernization Act, HR 1784 & S. 883Elevate ORR within the HHS bureaucracy Allow formula state funding to include projected arrivalsHelp with data collection & assistance to secondary migrantsRequire the federal government to analyze the challenges refugees and communities face and the effectiveness of efforts to help refugees attain self-sufficiencyZero cost

Slide22

White House Task Force for New Americans

"Strengthening Communities by Welcoming All Residents: A Federal Strategic Action Plan on Immigrant & Refugee Integration strategy”http://www.rcusa.org/domestic-issueshttp://

uscisconnect.ideascale.com

Slide23

White House Task Force for New Americans

Making refugees part of the discussion

Slide24

Refugee Funding

The Refugee and Entrant Assistance (REA) account in the Labor, Health and Human Services bill funds the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to help refugees integrate in their new communities. RCUSA recommends that Congress appropriate $2.101 billion for ORR in fiscal year 2016.The Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account in the State Department / Foreign Operations bill funds the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) to help displaced persons internationally and provide initial assistance for refugees resettled in the United States. RCUSA recommends that Congress appropriate: $3.3 billion for the MRA account$100 million for the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA) account$2.5 billion for the International Disaster Assistance (IDA) account of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Slide25

Civic Engagement

Civic engagement is a key component of integrationVoting and participating in civil society are key to the integration process.When naturalized U.S. citizens exercise their right to vote, they empower themselves to be full members of their new communities. While immigrants and refugees who are not yet naturalized cannot yet vote, they can help with get-out-the-vote activities. Civic engagement work is non-partisan, and does not endorse any candidate or political partyRCUSA members are 501(c)3 organizations that do not endorse any party or candidate. You should never mention a political party or candidate while registering people to vote.

Slide26

World Refugee Day events are great opportunities to register naturalized citizens to vote and share stories about individuals who are voting for the first time, to motivate everyone to register to vote and show up on election day.

Voter registration cards, absentee and early voting ballotsClip boards, a visual flow chart on voter registration and sample scripts for volunteersCommitment cards asking people to promise to vote on election day and a volunteer sign-up sheetState voter information from your Election Office, including a map of jurisdictions & polling placesSigns: “Register to Vote Here!” & “Voter registration available without regard for the voter’s political preference.”Tally sheet for reporting your activity at the end of the dayVoter Registration Table Checklist

Slide27

IIC Contacts by organization

African American Ministers in Action: Leslie Malachi, lmalachi@pfaw.orgAmerican Baptist Home Mission Societies of the American Baptist Churches, USA: Aundreia Alexander, Aundreia.Alexander@abhms.orgAmerican Friends Service Committee:

Lia Lindsey,

llindsey@afsc.org

American Jewish Committee:

Chelsea Hanson,

hansonc@ajc.org

Bread for the World Institute:

Andrew

Wainer

,

awainer@bread.org

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):

Sharon Stanley,

sstanley@dhm.disciples.org

Christian Reformed Church

Kris Van

Engen

,

kvanengen@

crcna.org

Church of the Brethren:

Nate

Hosler

,

nhosler@brethren.org

Church World Service:

Jen Smyers,

jsmyers@cwsglobal.org

Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach: Chloe Schwabe,

cschwabe@columban.org

Conference of Major Superiors of Men:

Eli McCarthy

emccarthy@cmsm.org

Daughters of Charity:

Mary

Ellen Lacey,

Maryellen.lacy@doc.org

Episcopal Church:

Katie Conway,

kconway@episcopalchurch.org

Franciscan Action Network:

Marie

Lucey

,

lucey@franciscanaction.org

Friends Committee on National Legislation:

Ruth Flower,

flower@fcnl.org

HIAS:

Liza Lieberman,

liza.lieberman@hias.org

Interfaith Worker Justice:

Michael Livingston,

mlivingston@iwj.org

Irish Apostolate USA:

Geri Garvey,

administrator@usairish.org

Islamic Information Center:

(currently no contact available)

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA,

Mary Small,

msmall@jesuit.org

Jewish Council for Public Affairs:

Jill

Borak

,

jborak@thejcpa.org

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

: Ann Scholz, SSND

ascholz@lcwr.org

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service:

Brittney Nystrom,

Bnystrom@lirs.org

Maryknoll

Office for Global

Concerns:

Judy

Coode,

jcoode@maryknoll.org

Mennonite Central Committee:

Tammy Alexander,

TammyAlexander@mcc.org

Muslim Public Affairs Council:

Hoda

Elshishtawy

,

hoda@mpac.org

Sisters of the Good Shepherd:

Larry Couch,

lclobbyist@gsadvocacy.org

National Council of Churches:

Russell Meyer,

rmeyer@floridachurches.org

National Council of Jewish Women:

Madeline Shepherd,

madeline@ncjwdc.org

NETWORK Lobby:

Laura Peralta-

Schulte

LPeralta

@

networklobby.org

Pax

Christi:

Anne-Louise Nadeau,

anadeau@paxchristiusa.org

PICO:

Gordon Whitman,

gwhitman@piconetwork.org

Presbyterian Church, USA:

Teresa Waggener,

Teresa.Waggener@pcusa.org

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas:

Ryan Murphy,

rmurphy@sistersofmercy.org

Sojourners:

Ivone Guillen,

iguillen@sojo.net

3P Human Security

: Tom

Brenneman

,

cooperativebydesign@gmail.com

T’ruah

: The

Rabbinic Call for Human

Rights,

Rabbi Rachel Kahn-

Troster

rkahntroster@truah.org

Union for Reform Judaism

:

Jonathan

Edelman

jedelman

@

rac.org

Unitarian Universalist Association:

Jen Toth,

JToth@uua.org

United Church of Christ:

Rev. Mari

Castellanos

,

castellm@ucc.org

United Methodist Church:

Bill

Mefford

,

bmefford@umc-gbcs.org

UNITED SIKHS

:

Anisha

Singh,

anisha.singh@

unitedsikhs.org

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Kevin Appleby,

kappleby@usccb.org

U.S. Jesuit Conference,

Shaina

Aber

,

saber@jesuit.org

World Relief:

Jenny Hwang

jhwang@worldrelief.org