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Everything You Need to Know About Unaccompanied Minors at the Border, Part 2

A Conversation with Matthew Soerens and Jenny Yang

Recently we’ve seen reports of another “crisis” at the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly related to children, or ‘unaccompanied minors.’

We continue to explore and understand what’s actually happening, what should be happening?, and what can followers of Jesus who care about vulnerable children do?

We’re continuing the conversation World Relief’s President, Scott Arbeiter, started with Jenny Yang and Matthew Soerens, World Relief’s in-house immigration policy experts and co-authors of Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion and Truth in the Immigration Debate to help us understand what’s currently happening at the border. (If you missed part 1, listen or read to it here.)

To read the conversation, download the transcript.

Quick Facts:

Immigration policy can be confusing and hard to keep track if you aren’t familiar with the language. Below are a few key terms to keep in mind as you listen and/or read. 

TVPRA: The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. A 2008 law that, among many other elements, governs how unaccompanied children identified at the border are to be treated.

Title 42: A public health law that both the Trump and Biden administrations have cited as a legal justification to turn away asylum seekers because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Migrant Protection Protocols: A Trump administration policy that required most asylum seekers who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border to “remain in Mexico” to await their court hearings, rather than being allowed to wait safely in the U.S. for their court proceedings.


Scott Arbeiter is a former pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and the president of World Relief, which is a subsidiary of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Everything You Need to Know About Unaccompanied Minors at the Border Part 1

A Conversation with Matthew Soerens and Jenny Yang

This week, we’re seeing news reports of another “crisis” at the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly related to children, or ‘unaccompanied minors.’

What’s actually happening? What should be happening? And what can followers of Jesus who care about vulnerable children do?

Here, World Relief’s President, Scott Arbeiter, sits down with Jenny Yang and Matthew Soerens, World Relief’s in-house immigration policy experts and co-authors of Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion and Truth in the Immigration Debate to help us understand what’s currently happening at the border.

To read the conversation, download the transcript.

Quick Facts:

Immigration policy can be confusing and hard to keep track if you aren’t familiar with the language. Below are a few key terms to keep in mind as you listen and/or read. 

TVPRA: The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. A 2008 law that, among many other elements, governs how unaccompanied children identified at the border are to be treated.

Title 42: A public health law that both the Trump and Biden administrations have cited as a legal justification to turn away asylum seekers because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Migrant Protection Protocols: A Trump administration policy that required most asylum seekers who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border to “remain in Mexico” to await their court hearings, rather than being allowed to wait safely in the U.S. for their court proceedings.

Jump to part II next →


Scott Arbeiter is a former pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and the president of World Relief, which is a subsidiary of the National Association of Evangelicals.

World Relief Responds to Attack on World Food Programme Convoy in the Democratic Republic of Congo

February 22, 2021

CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734

BALTIMORE — World Relief is grieved and shocked by the recent attack on the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) convoy in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Luca Attanasio, Italy’s ambassador to the Congo since 2017, was killed, as well as an Italian police officer and their Congolese driver.

The ambush occurred as the convoy was traveling from Goma, DRC’s eastern regional capital, to visit a WFP school feeding project in Rutshuru. These individuals were attacked while carrying out critical work in helping provide food assistance to those who do not have it. 

“We have worked with the World Food Programme to respond to critical hunger needs in the DRC and other countries and are saddened by this devastating news,” said Charles FranzĂ©n, director of humanitarian and disaster response at World Relief. “Humanitarian organizations often have to take dangerous routes to reach vulnerable populations around the world, and this is a reminder that safety measures should be a top priority to ensure critical humanitarian aid reaches those who are most vulnerable.” 

Since 2001, World Relief has been on the ground in DRC, helping communities restart their lives and address the social fractures that exist as a result of long-term conflict. In the eastern DRC, World Relief works in areas where multiple armed groups are operating and where violence persists. World Relief runs programs in HIV/AIDS prevention, peacebuilding, sexual and gender-based violence and trauma healing, agriculture and food security, saving groups, and church mobilization and empowerment. 

“Over the years, World Relief has worked with stakeholders in the DRC to reach some of the most vulnerable populations and hardest areas in the region,” said Myal Greene, senior vice president of international programs. “This situation is a devastating reminder of the significant challenges and dangers our staff and other humanitarian workers face every day. We are committed to continuing to bring peace and sustainable solutions to the DR of Congo.” 

About World Relief

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.

Learn more at worldrelief.org.

To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.

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