Tell your representatives to reclaim their role in refugee admissions and enshrine America’s commitment to refugees in law.
You can do what the federal government won’t: fund resettlement. Help a local office to keep their doors open and their lights on.
Built over Decades—Damaged in Days “This is just a way of putting us out of business, because if you make us wait long enough, we’re not gonna be able to pay our bills. So, you know, who can wait longer, the federal government or a nonprofit organization?” —...
Last year, Rhode Island welcomed 398 refugees. This year, Rhode Island is on track to welcome around 100–over 70% fewer refugees. All of these refugees were resettled before the Trump Administration took office; following the Administration’s suspension, refugee arrivals have stopped entirely.
One of Rhode Island’s resettlement offices will be unable to resettle refugees next year. Declines in arrivals and federal funding have forced the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops–which oversees 60 of U.S.’s 360 resettlement offices–to withdraw from the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Catholic Social Services of Rhode Island is one of those offices.
Donating to Catholic Social Services of Rhode Island can help position this office to resume resettlement should the federal landscape change.
To change the federal landscape, contact your representatives.
Rhode Island deserves a Refugee Program they can rely on.
Refugees do too.