Ahead of World Refugee Day, the United Nations’ refugee agency announced the greatest number of forcibly displaced people ever recorded.
The UNHCR Global Trends report shows 108.4 million people at the end of 2022 were forcibly displaced worldwide, but recent fighting, especially in Sudan, has pushed the global total to an estimated 110 million as of May 2023.
Putting down roots in a welcoming community is vital to refugees’ long-term success in the United States. To facilitate this, HIAS resettlement partner Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services has developed a community garden where clients can gather to cultivate foods used in their native cuisines.
In preparation for May 11, when the Biden Administration will finally end the Trump administration’s policy of expelling asylum seekers under the pretext of a public health measure known as Title 42, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State today announced what they described as “regional migration management measures.”
Leaders of the Jewish community and guests gathered to celebrate the coming together of HIAS and JCORE (the Jewish Council for Racial Equality) to form a new entity which will lead the Jewish response on issues of asylum, refugees, and racial equality in the United Kingdom.
At least 39 people died and dozens were injured Monday night in a fire at the National Migration Institute in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, an area where HIAS is active in assisting asylum seekers.
The number of HIAS Welcome Circles in the United States has just reached 100. And there are more to come.
HIAS Welcome Circles are part of the private sponsorship model that allows for groups of individuals to independently raise funds and directly provide essential assistance to refugees.
In the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, St. Louisans from three faith communities came together to welcome a family of evacuees and help them get settled in the United States.
For tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees, the clock is ticking to apply for asylum before their temporary status of humanitarian parole expires. By connecting evacuees with pro bono lawyers, the Pro Se+ project has helped many navigate this process more smoothly.
In an appearance on “CNN Newsroom” on Friday morning, HIAS President and CEO Mark Hetfield praised the Welcome Corps, a new Biden administration initiative that allows Americans to privately sponsor refugees from around the world. The initiative resembles what HIAS has been doing through its own Welcome Circles, starting with Afghan evacuees in 2021.
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, HIAS committed considerable resources and expertise toward assisting clients displaced by the conflict, which has triggered one of the world’s largest refugee crises. On the eve of the war’s anniversary, HIAS’ efforts have been recognized: We are among the Jewish activists and organizations honored by this year’s Genesis Prize (also known as the “Jewish Nobel”) for working to uphold Ukraine’s independence and alleviate the suffering of the People of Ukraine.
