All Stories

Jul 6, 2016

Countdown to Resettlement: Iranian Refugees Prepare for Life in the US

When I walk into the cultural orientation session, intended to help prepare this group of Iranian refugees for life in the U.S., they are in the middle of a game. All of the participants, young and old, jump up and rush to find seats. One young woman, who is not trying particularly hard to find a chair, feigns disappointment at having to answer the next question.

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Jun 30, 2016

Interfaith With Impact: HIAS Volunteers Join Multifaith Effort for Syrian Refugees

In a powerful show of support for Syrian refugees, close to 1,000 volunteers gathered in the historic 69th Regiment Armory in Manhattan, assembling personal hygiene kits for those who have fled the Syrian civil war. “It made me feel part of a larger community. One that is saying to the recipients of these packages, there are people who care about you. You are not forgotten,” said Laurel Garron, a HIAS volunteer.

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Jun 28, 2016

Guest Post: Newcomer Art Exhibit Expands Dialogue in North Carolina

Journeys to a Different Landscape, showcasing works by kindergarten through high school students from 19 different countries who have settled in the Triangle area, drew more than 100 community members to its opening in Carrboro on May 13.

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Jun 26, 2016

Stories of Survival: Pedro and His Wife Find a New Life in Venezuela

“Because of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, since 2007 HIAS Venezuela has been able to assist more than 500 victims of torture and their families, including Pedro,” said Isabel Altuve, Interim Director of HIAS Venezuela.

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Jun 23, 2016

Photos: See How Refugees Around the World Celebrate World Refugee Day

On June 20, 2016, World Refugee Day celebrations around the world honored the bravery and perseverance of the millions of men, women and children who are refugees today—and also provided an opportunity for refugees themselves to have a bit of fun.

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Jun 21, 2016

A Record-Smashing Year for Global Displacement: What You Need to Know

More than 65 million people were displaced by war and persecution by the end of 2015, according to a report released on World Refugee Day by the U.N. refugee agency. Here’s what you need to know.

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Jun 20, 2016

VIDEO: After 17 Years, Refugee Brothers Find A New Country, A New Home

Watch this beautiful Jewish-Muslim-Christian refugee story and meet Jalal, Kamal, and the community that welcomed them with open arms.

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Jun 20, 2016

León Rodríguez: Welcoming Refugees is More Than Just a Humanitarian Obligation

Before he became Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the Department of Homeland Security, León Rodríguez was the grandchild of Jews who fled anti-semitism in Poland and Turkey. “At the end of the day, refugees and refugee families are just like us, except in much more difficult situations,” Rodríguez says in an exclusive video interview.

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Jun 14, 2016

In New York, Musicians Gather for World Refugee Day Tribute

Yankovskaya, who was once a refugee herself, started the Refugee Orchestra Project to showcase “the contribution that those who have come to this country seeking a better life have made.” Many of the musicians and singers are also refugees, like acclaimed soprano Lubana Al Quntar who hails from Syria.

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Jun 10, 2016

Senators Push Obama to Welcome More Syrian Refugees

Canada, our neighbor to the north, has roughly one tenth the population of the United States. Yet Canada has welcomed over 26,800 Syrians since November 2015, while the United States has admitted less than 2,000. But some in Washington want to do something about that.

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