HIAS is sad to learn of the passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who was a tireless advocate for refugees and asylum-seekers, working with us and our refugee protection partners for a robust refugee admissions ceiling every year, and for a more humane and orderly immigration system.
HIAS has announced five new affiliate sites in the United States to provide resettlement services and other integration support for those arriving under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) of the State Department.
The May Dugan Center will now provide resettlement services and other integration support for refugees when they arrive in the United States under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
In 2014, Robert fled anti-LGBTQ persecution in Uganda, eventually settling in Philadelphia with the assistance of HIAS affiliate HIAS Pennsylvania. Today, as new anti-LGBTQ legislation looms large in Uganda, he has built a new life for himself — and community for LGBTQ refugees in Philadelphia.
In mid-May, over 300 activist leaders from across California convened at JPAC Capitol Summit to advocate on issues of concern to their communities. Extending case management for refugees, a goal aligned with Jewish history and values, was one of the summit’s major priorities.
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.”
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.
HIAS welcomes today’s announcement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend the humanitarian parole status of some 20,000 Ukrainians who arrived at U.S. ports of entry between February 24, 2022 and April 25, 2022, before the launch of the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program.
The Biden administration’s new Welcome Corps initiative represents a breakthrough in advancing private refugee sponsorship in the United States — but is by no means the first program of its kind in North America. The American initiative, according to HIAS President and CEO Mark Hetfield, in fact drew inspiration from a similar program in Canada.