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LIRS Print and Video Publications

Most of the publications listed below are available for download in PDF. If you have trouble opening PDF documents on this site, click here.

Books, Manuals and Reports

		America: A Freedom Country is a 44-page book featuring powerful text and photographs that tell the stories of 10 asylum seekers who came to the United States seeking refuge from persecution. A powerful tool for church groups and advocates seeking to educate their communities about asylum and detention. Provides policy recommendations and suggests ways for individuals to help effect change. • Read more about the storybook. • Download the order form to request a copy of the print edition • Download the storybook (859KB). [PDF file]

		Burmese Refugees of Concern to LIRS in India and Thailand This 16-page report covers findings and recommendations based on a 2004 trip by LIRS staff members to learn more about the situation of nearly 300,000 Burmese refugees in camps, urban settlements and other areas throughout India and Thailand. • Download the report [PDF file].

		Dominican Republic, Haiti and the United States: A Shared Responsibility to Protect Refugees is a 2-page report by LIRS and Refugees International on the two agencies' November 2006 joint assessment mission focused on Haitian asylum seekers. Click here to read their report on the trip (MS Word file).

		A Faithful Response: A Study for Churches on Welcoming the Stranger is a 34-page curriculum for adults and older teens. The four-week study will help your congregation better understand the experiences of newcomers, and will inspire you to create a more welcoming community for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. • Download the study (1MB). [PDF file]

		Financial Literacy for Newcomers: Weaving Immigrant Needs into Financial Education is a 32-page report that reviews existing financial literacy curriculums for immigrants and refugees. It provides recommendations for development of further materials and programs that will help newcomers establish the financial stability they will need to be successful in America. • E-mail RefugeeWorks to request a print copy. • Download the report (3.4MB). [PDF file]

		LIRS 2006 Annual Report: Hope Thrives This 20-page report celebrates LIRS's accomplishments, shares our financial data and lists our donors from 2006. • Download the abbreviated financial report [4 MB PDF file] • Download the full report [20 MB PDF file]

		LIRS 2005 Annual Report: Hope for a New Day This 16-page report celebrates LIRS's accomplishments, shares our financial data and lists our donors from 2005. • Download the abbreviated financial report [5 MB PDF file] • Download the full report [28 MB PDF file]

		LIRS Refugee Co-Sponsorship Manual: Bringing New Hope and New Life One Family at a Time This 51-page manual is a detailed guide for congregations and other groups working with LIRS to help resettled refugees transition to life in their new U.S. communities. The manual covers general information on refugees, resettlement, and LIRS; how to organize a co-sponsorship team; the responsibilities of a co-sponsorship team; and helpful tips for the co-sponsorship process. Various appendices provide additional support resources. • Download the manual (2MB). [PDF file]

		Locking Up Family Values: The Detention of Immigrant Families This 72-page report, a joint publication of LIRS and the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, details the U.S. policy of detaining families who are in immigration proceedings. examines the conditions of confinement and makes recommendations for correcting this unjust and inhumane system. • Download the report (2MB). [PDF file]

		No Small Matter: Ensuring Protection & Durable Solutions for Unaccompanied & Separated Refugee Children This 80-page report, prepared by LIRS for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, includes research and recommendations for serving the best interests of unaccompanied or separated refugee children. • Download the report (1.3MB). [PDF file]

		Pocket Knowledge This full-color, 38-page booklet contains practical information for individuals released from immigration detention. It is also useful for others who have recently arrived in the United States, particularly asylum seekers. The booklet contains general tips and information about topics such as the right to work, getting a social security number and finding financial support. Other useful features include a directory of torture treatment programs across the country. • Download the booklet (2MB). [PDF file] • View inserts with information for five areas of the country with a high concentration of torture survivors: Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. [PDF files] • E-mail survivor@lirs.org to request print copies.

		Responding to the Call: A Manual for Congregations Reaching Out to Immigrants Through Social Ministry (Manual) Built around four case studies of Lutheran congregations that accepted God’s call to welcome the stranger, this 30-page publication offers advice, sparks new ideas and raises questions for churches to consider as they embark upon this rewarding journey. • Read more about the manual. • Download the manual (859KB). [PDF file]

		A Shady Tree: Hope for Vulnerable Refugees in Malaysia and Thailand This 20-page report is a joint publication of LIRS and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration and Refugee Services. Representatives of both agencies visited Burmese refugee camps in Malaysia and Thailand and reported their findings and recommendations in this 2005 publication. • Download the report [PDF file].

		Working with Refugee and Immigrant Children A useful tool for attorneys, social workers and advocates, this manual combines information about migration issues, child welfare and child development to bridge the gap between these two disciplines. • Read more.

Video

I Came to America
This 4-minute video gives an introductory overview of LIRS's mission and work. Availabke in AVI format, which is viewable in applications such as Windows Media player, and in two file sizes.
• Download 30 MB AVI file (suitable for individual viewing)
• Download 100 MB AVI file (suitable for group viewing in full-screen mode)

Periodicals

Also see our archives for regular online columns, news releases and additional periodicals, including titles that are no longer in publication.

		Voices of Hope LIRS's agency newsletter, published three times per year to provide information and inspiration to our partners and supporters. • Subscribe • Download archived Issues

		RefugeeWorks Employment Quarterly RefugeeWorks, a program of LIRS, publishes a quarterly newsletter focusing on various issues impacting former refugees in the world of employment. • Contact RefugeeWorks for subscription information. • Download archived Issues

Brochures and Other Items

		Opening Hearts, Opening Doors for Refugees This two-page, printer-friendly version of our brochure gives an overview of LIRS's refugee resettlement ministries, including who refugees are and how they come the the United States, LIRS's role in their transition, and how you can help through donations and service. Download PDF file or read online in HTML.

		Responding to the Call: Reaching Out to Immigrants Through Social Ministry (Brochure) This two-page, printer-friendly version of our brochure encourages congregations to welcome the stranger and provides practical ideas and guidance for serving newcomers. Challenges and benefits of immigrant ministries are also covered. Download PDF file.

		Welcoming the Immigrant: Information and Resources for Lutheran Congregations This two-page, printer-friendly version of our brochure encourages Lutheran congregations to welcome immigrants, and provides basic information on immigration law. Download PDF file.

		Building Communities of Hope is a 4-page introduction to the powerful impact congregations and other groups can make when they come alongside refugees and immigrants to serve as partners in rebuilding a hopeful future. • Download [PDF file] Building Communities of Hope: Getting Started is a 2-page overview of how congregations and other groups can actually get involved in community-building activities. • Download [PDF file]

		Fact Sheets How LIRS Serves Children This one-sheet handout [PDF file] gives an overview of the many avenues through which LIRS serves children. Refugee, Asylum Seeker, Immigrant: What Do These Terms Really Mean? This fact sheet [PDF file] helps sort out the important legal differences among these terms and the groups they describe

		Advocacy Backgrounders Comprehensive Immigration Reform—Backgrounder This handout highlights flaws in the U.S. immigration system and describes current legislation that begins to address those weaknesses. Available online in MS Word format. Comprehensive Immigration Reform—"On the Issue" Download PDF. Comprehensive Immigration Reform—Backgrounder on Local Anti-Immigrant Laws Download Word document. 'Material Support' Provisions This handout explains how current U.S. law is being unjustly interpreted to keep some refugees and asylum seekers from receiving protection in the Unites States. Download MS Word document. Kids Can't Wait for Justice This handout outlines needed protections for unaccompanied children and current legislation that addressed those concerns. Download MS Word document.

		Posters Jesus Was a Refugee: This series of posters feature artwork from a limited-edition commemorative plate depicting the flight to Egypt of Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus to escape King Herod's slaughter of the innocents. Each of the five posters proclaims, "Jesus was a refugee," and features a different brief encouragement about bringing new hope and new life to newcomers in our midst. You can download the posters in 8.5"x11" or 11"x17" format. [PDF files]. NOTE: For best results, set Page Scaling to none. The posters are designed to be printed as-is.