Wednesday, April 18, 2018
As part of our mission to stand with refugees and migrants, LIRS works to empower refugees and LIRS network partners to engage in advocacy on both local and national levels. Our network partner, Lutheran Services of Georgia, recently took part in a fantastic grassroots effort – sponsored in part by the LIRS Local Migrant and Refugee Leadership Academy initiative!
Last month, staff from Lutheran Services of Georgia and several refugees from the community participated in the...
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at Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Monday, April 9, 2018
Sending Hope Behind Bars
This spring, offer comfort to families in detention
In partnership with Amnesty International and RAICES, LIRS is collecting hand-written cards from activists like you to send to families detained at Berks County Residential Center. As one of the few family detention centers in this country, Berks holds men, women, and children in prison-like conditions while they await immigration trials. With your help, we can send these families a message of...
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at Monday, April 9, 2018
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Join Us for this Week of Action
Equipping You To Take Action & Create Change
Between April 2 and April 6, LIRS is mobilizing our network of supporters to hold national leaders accountable for resettling at least 45,000 refugees in FY18 and secure a commitment from the administration to resettle at least 75,000 refugees in the year to come. And we need your help!!
There are three key ways that you can take part in this Week of Action:
Advocate in Person :...
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at Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
A Story of Faith, Hope and Love
By Kim
The story below was submitted to LIRS by a volunteer for Samaritas, an LIRS local network partner. In the past year, there has been a significant backlog at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases for undocumented children. This backlog has increased the risk that unaccompanied children will age out of foster care and not get the support they...
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at Friday, March 23, 2018
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Take action
Support Iranian refugees seeking to reunite with family in Texas
Your support is needed to help a group of Iranian refugees and their families in Texas. The refugees were expected to be reunited with their families in San Antonio but are now stuck in Vienna and face imminent deportation back to Iran. The refugees are part of a persecuted religious minority in Iran who were in the process of being resettled in the United States through a policy called the Lautenberg...
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at Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Friday, February 16, 2018
A Breakdown of Immigration Legislation:
Equip Yourself and Take Action
Only two weeks remain until the March 5 deadline, when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) officially ends. Dreamers are already being deported, and every day we get closer to the March 5 th deadline, more immigrant youth who worship in our churches, attend our schools, and work alongside us, are at risk of deportation.
Over the last few months, both the White House and Congress have...
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Posted by
Rebecca Heller
at
Friday, February 16, 2018
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
the Immigration Debate
Follow LIRS on Twitter for a Week of Vital Advocacy
Yesterday evening, the Senate began debating a bare-bones immigration bill.
We anticipate that the Senate will put a bill on the floor and hold an open amendment process. This means that we may see amendments that will restrict immigration to historic lows, eliminate the diversity and family visas, take away protections for unaccompanied children, create obstacles for asylum seekers, and increase...
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at Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Friday, February 9, 2018
A lot of LIRS advocacy work happens behind the scenes in DC, and, likewise, a lot of important congressional campaigns take place without much fanfare.
January 27 th marked one year since President Trump issued the first executive order banning refugees and Muslims from seeking safety within our borders. At the grassroots level, we organized rallies, call-in days, and meetings; but behind closed doors, representatives on Capitol Hill were also doing their part to support refugees.
During...
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at Friday, February 9, 2018
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Defending our calling to welcome the stranger here in the United States is not always easy. Several months ago, the Administration announced plans to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. For years, the program has shielded many young immigrants, who came to this nation at the average age of six, from the unshakeable worry of deportation and separation from their families, friends, and the only country they have ever known.
In Michigan, there are approximately 5,400...
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at Thursday, February 1, 2018
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Join Us For A National Week Of Action
Coming Up! January 27 - February 3, 2018
As a co-founding member of the We Are All America coalition , LIRS invites you to join us for an important week of action – Jan. 27 through Feb. 3.
January 27 marks the one-year anniversary of President Trump's original travel ban. We are seizing this opportunity to stand up as Americans and challenge the Administration to uphold this country's rich legacy of liberty, diversity, and...
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Posted by
Danielle Bernard
at
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Our Morals Will Not Be Compromised
Child Protections on the Table in Immigration Debate
With the shutdown behind us, Congress is now actively working on an immigration deal, and LIRS is watching carefully as talks turn to the rollback of vital protections for children seeking asylum in the United States.
We are hopeful that members from both sides of the aisle will find a way to work together. However, LIRS is unwilling to stand by as the future of vulnerable children is leveraged or...
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Posted by
Danielle Bernard
at
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
We’re glad to welcome Pastor Marsh Drege to the Redefining Welcome blog this week as a guest writer. Pastor Drege is the Executive Director of Seafarers International House in New York City.
Pastor Marsh Drege (center) with two asylees who currently stay at Seafarers International House.
Seafarers International House (SIH) has stood with vulnerable immigrants and seafarers–new arrivals to this country–for 145 years. This Lutheran...
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at Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Thursday, May 11, 2017
The filled and collected backpacks ready to be blessed and given to families released from detention centers. Credit: Ronald Richter
For several years, we at LIRS have encouraged supporters to choose a Sunday to focus on refugees. Many churches and groups have faithfully participated and have used their Refugee Sunday service to learn about the global refugee situation, pray for people forced to flee from home, and celebrate refugee neighbors.
Today, we...
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at Thursday, May 11, 2017
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
From the left, Shelly Pitterman, former UNHCR Regional Representative, Samba Halkose, and Abdalhamid Ali.
Today, we honor the millions of migrant and refugee women around the world. We want to share the story of one woman who sought a better life for herself and her children.
Samba was a single mother in the Democratic Republic of Congo where she was disrespected and called a prostitute. The stigma and discrimination made life difficult for her and she longed for a better...
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at Wednesday, March 8, 2017