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1. NEW from me & @emmillerwrites: As Biden announced a new EO raising the refugee ceiling (eventually) to pre-Trump levels, we asked leaders of the 6 faith-based orgs that help the govt resettle refugees what it will take to rebuild the decimated program. https://religionnews.com/2021/02/05/faith-based-refugee-resettlement-groups-describe-what-it-will-take-to-rebuild-program-after-trump-cuts/
2. Key thing to keep in mind: these faith groups are essentially the core of the refugee program here in the U.S.
There are only 9 groups that resettle refugees domestically, and 6 are faith-based — i.e., the groups we spoke with.
Their programs have had a rough go under Trump.
There are only 9 groups that resettle refugees domestically, and 6 are faith-based — i.e., the groups we spoke with.
Their programs have had a rough go under Trump.
3. Every year the Trump admin lowered the refugee ceiling despite the pleas of these religious groups — one of which is evangelical.
Consequently, most had to close offices and lay off staff.
Here's the thing: many staff are *themselves former refugees.* https://religionnews.com/2018/02/16/faith-based-refugee-groups-are-still-fighting-trumps-travel-ban-and-for-their-own-survival/
Consequently, most had to close offices and lay off staff.
Here's the thing: many staff are *themselves former refugees.* https://religionnews.com/2018/02/16/faith-based-refugee-groups-are-still-fighting-trumps-travel-ban-and-for-their-own-survival/
4. The situation for these agencies — and, as they repeatedly argued, the refugees they serve — got worse every year under Trump.
The Trump admin wouldn't budge. https://religionnews.com/2019/02/04/two-years-after-trumps-travel-ban-faith-based-refugee-groups-struggle/
The Trump admin wouldn't budge. https://religionnews.com/2019/02/04/two-years-after-trumps-travel-ban-faith-based-refugee-groups-struggle/
5. There was one refugee group Trump said he wanted to help: persecuted Christians abroad.
But as refugee groups noted: from a refugee standpoint, that didn't happen. *FEWER* Christian refugees from "countries of concern" were admitted under Trump. https://religionnews.com/2019/07/25/trump-aims-to-protect-persecuted-christians-but-some-arent-sure-hes-helping/
But as refugee groups noted: from a refugee standpoint, that didn't happen. *FEWER* Christian refugees from "countries of concern" were admitted under Trump. https://religionnews.com/2019/07/25/trump-aims-to-protect-persecuted-christians-but-some-arent-sure-hes-helping/
6. Meanwhile, the Trump administration kept chipping away at the program. He signed an executive order allowing state and local officials to deny refugee resettlement.
The faith groups — specifically HIAS, CWS, and LIRS — sued. https://religionnews.com/2019/11/22/faith-groups-sue-trump-administration-over-refugee-resettlement-order/
The faith groups — specifically HIAS, CWS, and LIRS — sued. https://religionnews.com/2019/11/22/faith-groups-sue-trump-administration-over-refugee-resettlement-order/
7. Turns out their legal challenge was pretty strong, because earlier this year the court sided with the faith groups. https://religionnews.com/2021/01/08/court-blocks-trump-executive-order-allowing-state-and-local-officials-to-refuse-refugees/
8. Meanwhile, in the tail end of 2020, the State Department started vanishing refugee data, including religious affiliation — for reasons that remain unclear. https://religionnews.com/2020/10/13/refugees-pesecuted-christians-trump-world-relief-state-department-resettlement-statistics-processing-system/
9. This all is radically different from Biden's approach.
In fact, when Biden re-announced during the transition his intention to raise the refugee ceiling, he did it while addressing a religious group — specifically, the Jesuit Refugee Service. https://religionnews.com/2020/11/12/biden-pledges-to-raise-refugee-ceiling-to-125000-in-address-to-jesuit-group/
In fact, when Biden re-announced during the transition his intention to raise the refugee ceiling, he did it while addressing a religious group — specifically, the Jesuit Refugee Service. https://religionnews.com/2020/11/12/biden-pledges-to-raise-refugee-ceiling-to-125000-in-address-to-jesuit-group/
10. What's more, Biden's DHS pick Alejandro Mayorkas — who until recently served on the board of HIAS! — *met with faith groups including faith-based refugee resettlement groups* during the transition. https://religionnews.com/2020/12/18/biden-dhs-nominee-has-refreshing-meeting-with-faith-groups-about-immigration-refugees/
