Global Refuge

We are thrilled to announce that Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) will now be known to the world & the people we serve as “Global Refuge.” 🌍🎉 New name, same mission. We invite you to learn more: globalrefuge.org/identity

This week, President Biden officially signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Presidential Determination on refugee admissions, maintaining the annual cap at 125,000 refugees. What is the Presidential Determination? The Refugee Act of 1980 requires that the President annually consults with Congress to assess the scope of global humanitarian disaster, sets a U.S. admissions goal based on global needs and congressional funding, and provides a pipeline for internationally displaced populations to lawfully enter the U.S. after extensive security screening and vetting processes. While the FY25 target remains the same for the fourth consecutive year, refugee arrivals in FY24 indicate promising progress for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which had been gutted during the previous administration and has been undergoing major rebuilding and revitalization. “We commend the Biden administration for its steadfast efforts to rebuild the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program,” remarked Global Refuge President and CEO, Krish O'Mara Vignarajah. “Thanks to this administration’s commitment, these families have found safety, hope, and a sense of belonging in communities that are eager to embrace them as neighbors, friends, congregants, and co-workers.” “As we inch closer to the 2024 election, there is much uncertainty about the future of persecuted refugees’ ability to seek safety and freedom in the United States. Our sincere hope is to continue this country’s long bipartisan legacy of welcoming the most vulnerable and leading by the power of our example.” 📰 Read the full press release: https://bit.ly/3Y6YTD8

ICYMI: The Global Refuge 2023 Annual Report is here! 🎉 2023 was, without question, the biggest year in Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service's (now Global Refuge's) history. As you’ll see in our 2023 Annual Report, not only did we grow our staff to an unprecedented team of over 600 people, we launched three major initiatives and massively expanded programming to serve more children and families than ever before. A thread of GRACE—Global Refuge for Advocacy, Care, and Empowerment—runs through everything we do, from our efforts to mobilize communities and congregations to welcome, to our distinctive continuum of care for unaccompanied children, to our innovative refugee and immigrant mental health services. We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited for what’s ahead—and we know that we can’t do it without you. We hope you enjoy following the thread of GRACE through the programs and stories shared in this report! 📰🔗: https://lnkd.in/ebUcmsN3

Global Refuge: Fostering A World of Just and Welcoming Communities Thursday, October 10 / 5:30–7:30 Join Viewpoints at The Center Club for a candid conversation with Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, CEO of Global Refuge. Hear the conversation and ask your questions during the Q&A session. This event is open to the public. Member Registration: https://lnkd.in/eeGunhGb Non-member Registration: https://lnkd.in/eV9XTeZQ #Immigration #AsylumSeekers #BaltimoreCommunity #BaltimoreEconomy

Help families impacted by Hurricane Helene! 🔗 https://bit.ly/4eG7Pos Hurricane Helene has slammed into Florida's coast, bringing life-threatening storm surges, dangerous wind gusts, and power outages. We have seen storms like this leave families we serve without their homes, jobs, and possessions. And sadly, for these vulnerable families, government support is not always immediately available. Your generosity can help meet the following urgent needs: ☑️ Purchase food and clean drinking water. ☑️ Replace clothing, supplies, and necessities like diapers. ☑️ Repair storm-damaged homes. ☑️ Pay for temporary housing. Your support will help us invest in areas of greatest needs for our partners and for the families we serve directly. Please give today! 🔗 https://bit.ly/4eG7Pos

MYTH: Refugees and immigrants are voting illegally and will change voting patterns in the United States. ❌ To get the facts, join Global Refuge President and CEO, Krish O'Mara Vignarajah. ✔️ Disinformation and hateful rhetoric about immigrants and refugees are everywhere. Don’t believe what you read in the comments. Get the facts. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eizRCFdH

Thank you Lever for Change for spotlighting our economic empowerment initiatives! We’re honored to be in the company of so many impactful organizations working towards the UN Sustainable Development goals. At Global Refuge, we have seen the power of meaningful employment in the lives of newcomers… but the advantages don’t stop there. Hiring newcomers fills a critical need in the American workforce and creates a diverse, adaptable labor pool with greater capacity for innovation and global perspective. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dZ9E2dNd

TODAY at 3PM ET: Join us for a webinar on climate displacement geared towards faith communities! We'll discuss how climate change contributes to global displacement and how those displaced by climate are being supported in the U.S. by organizations like Global Refuge. Along with sharing more about the impact of climate on migration, Global Refuge's Vice President for Resettlement and Integration Services, Megan Bracy, will present on the services we provide for new arrivals. Register here: https://bit.ly/4e9UXqF #ClimateWeek

Global Refuge is attending the Climate Mobility Summit in New York as part of #ClimateWeekNYC! There is a wide gap between the scale of climate-related displacement and the current scope of national and international policies to protect affected people. We’re committed to building protections and pathways for those who are displaced by climate-related disasters. Visit our Climate Displacement Hub to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dnSmZRSk

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, President & CEO of Global Refuge, joined Midday with Tom Hall on WYPR for a discussion on the spread of misinformation about immigrants and refugees in America. This concern remains in the spotlight after former President Trump referenced the Haitian community of Springfield, Ohio in the September presidential debate. Krish also dispels other common misconceptions about immigrants, including the false notion that they contribute to higher crime rates and housing prices. Listen to the full interview and check out some key excerpts from our "Combatting Disinformation" toolkit here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dK3HHB5K