Posts by worldrelief
Stories from the Border: Naomi
Over the last few weeks the news has been filled with stories of what’s happening at the U.S.-Mexico border. Many of these realities are not new to our U.S. offices, who regularly work with immigrants and asylum seekers. Our offices provide legal services and vital programming to hundreds holding onto hope for a better future. In this series, Stories from the Border, we’ll be highlighting a few of these brave men and women, and their journey with World Relief.
At 9 years old, Naomi’s life in Central America was far from the stable, safe and secure childhood we all hope for. Her mother had left home to try and find work. Naomi’s father had been murdered — a victim of the violence and political instability in their country — and her grandmother was unable to care for her. Naomi turned to her neighbors and sought refuge in their home, but she was quickly surrounded by violence and corruption, and feared for her life. With nowhere left to turn, she made her way to the U.S. border alone — as a child — facing hardship and abuse along the way.
As an asylum seeker, Naomi was scared she would be forced to return and felt hopeless about her future. Until she met a World Relief staff member. After learning about Naomi and hearing her story, World Relief was able to take on her legal case and help her apply for Special Immigrant Juvenile status.
Today, Naomi is not in a detention center. Instead, she is enrolled in high school and continuing her education. She recently became part of a youth soccer program supported by local churches where she is meeting new friends. As Naomi looks toward her future, she says, “I really have a hope that I haven’t experienced before.”
Dana North serves as the Marketing Manager at World Relief. With a background in graphic design and advertising and experiences in community development and transformation, Dana seeks to use the power of words and action to help create a better world. Dana is especially passionate about seeking justice for women and girls around the world.
5 Ways You Can Help
Last week, we learned that vulnerable children and families are being detained in inadequate facilities and threatened with deportation. If you’re like us, you believe that families belong together, and that this is a grave injustice that we must fight back against. As Christians, and as Americans.
As you contemplate how you can respond to this crisis, here are five things you can do right now to help vulnerable immigrants, both at our Southern border and here in the United States.
Tragic drowning at Mexico-US border should shake us from our complacency
Many of us were horrified on Tuesday to see the picture of the bodies of a Salvadoran father, Oscar Martinez Ramirez, and his 2-year-old daughter, Valeria, washed up on the banks of the Rio Grande in Mexico.
Valeria’s tiny arms were wrapped in the shirt of her father, desperately clinging to him, clinging to life. Oscar must have fought to the final terrifying breath to save his daughter from drowning until, tragically, they were both overcome. My first instinct when seeing the photo on the screen of my phone was to turn away. It was too hard, too graphic, too brutal and too personal. Read story.
Image source : https://foxnews.com
A Prayer for Oscar & Valeria
How long must we wait, oh Lord?
For mercy
For justice
For action
How long did Oscar wait?
Valeria atop his back
Holding tight to her daddy.
Waiting
Pleading
Desperate.
How long did it take, oh Lord
For hope to fail them?
To take to the river
Their last attempt
Their final breaths
Taken not by the violence they escaped
But by hope, rejected.
Out of the depths, they cried to you, oh Lord
As we cry out to you now
Save us, Lord Jesus!
My God, my god, why did you forsake them?
Abba Father, where were you?
Abba Father, where are you?
How long will it take, oh Lord
For your people to speak
For your church to move
For your kingdom to come?
How long, oh Lord
Until we let the little children come?
Until our actions,
Match your teachings?
Until we do for the least of these
What we would do for you?
We cry out to you, Lord
Let your kingdom come
On earth, as it is in heaven.
Show us the path of righteousness.
A path that does not end
With a wall,
Or with a river.
But with refuge, and shelter,
Under your feathered wings
Where Oscar and Valeria lie,
Clinging to your promise of new life
Safe,
Together,
Home.
— Francesca Albano
Francesca Albano currently serves as Director of Branded Content at World Relief. With a background in Cultural Anthropology and a graduate degree in Strategic Marketing Communications, she connects her interests in societal studies and global cultures with her training in brand strategy and storytelling. Francesca is especially passionate about grassroots community development and the treatment and advancement of women and girls around the world.
World Relief Challenges Americans Not to Look Away, Help the Children in Detention at Our Border
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
June 26, 2019
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
carl@pinkstongroup.com
703-388-6734
World Relief Challenges Americans Not to Look Away, Help the Children in Detention at Our Border
Leading global Christian humanitarian organization urges humane conditions for asylum seekers and alternatives to detention.
BALTIMORE, Md. – As the heartbreaking image of Ă“scar Alberto MartĂnez RamĂrez, gripped by his young daughter in their last moments of life along the U.S.-Mexico border, pricks the conscience of the nation, World Relief is challenging Americans not to look away, but to respond with courage and compassion. Reports of neglect, poor sanitation and sparse supplies in detention centers – particularly those housing children – are unacceptable. And hardship to the point of death upon being refused aid at the U.S. border is unconscionable. To address these needs, World Relief is launching a challenge to Americans to call their representatives and give sacrificially to ensure that no child goes without basic necessities while on U.S. soil and that our asylum laws are respected. World Relief’s goal is to drive 5,000 messages to Congress and raise funds for legal aid, church mobilization and family reunification support.
“Law enforcement is essential, but ignoring humanitarian needs is egregious,” commented World Relief President Scott Arbeiter. “After being along the border this weekend and interacting with children and families recently released from governmental custody, I am further convinced that our government must shift resources from a response designed primarily to contain a security crisis and more toward a response to a humanitarian crisis. It is the responsibility of the governed to call to task their government, so we humbly urge each citizen to consider reaching out to their representative to solve once and for all the crisis at the border.”
In addition to the numerous other services offered to refugees, those granted asylum and other immigrants, World Relief is coordinating legal consultations for those with a legitimate case who are seeking asylum, helping many understand whether their circumstances qualify for asylum under the U.S. law. When individuals have a strong case, we want to represent as many individuals as possible, because we know that asylum seekers represented by legal counsel are approximately four times more likely to ultimately be granted asylum than those who are unrepresented. At present, the need dramatically exceeds the availability of authorized legal professionals, because asylum seekers generally go unrepresented unless they can afford a private attorney – or a non-profit legal services organization like World Relief can take the case. We are eager to expand our legal services, but we can do so only with increased support from churches and individuals who stand with asylum seekers.
Ultimately, many vulnerable asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children, are likely to continue to endure dehumanizing conditions and face a high likelihood of deportation to a situation of danger unless policies change. At World Relief, we believe that local churches throughout the country have a key role in advocating for just and compassionate immigration policies that are consistent with biblical values. We have long played a key role in mobilizing local churches for advocacy and we’re committed to mobilizing the church to respond now, to have the courage to not to look away.
Finally, World Relief believes that, whether a family is at the border, has long resided in the U.S. or has been separated and seeking reunification, families belong together. By donating, individuals are helping support the immigrant legal services programs of World Relief that help families quickly determine eligibility and file for family reunification.
World Relief CEO Tim Breene commented: “The conflicts and crises that drive families and individuals away from their countries of origin and cause them to flee to our borders are multifaceted and numerous. While the long-term solutions may require thoughtful investment of humanitarian resources, we can unequivocally improve the asylum process by offering clear, quick and legal methods that relieve stress on the officials who are valiantly trying to do their jobs at the border.”
To find out how you can participate in the challenge, visit worldrelief.org/call-for-families.
Download the PDF version of this press release.
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About World Relief:
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
Today on World Refugee Day, World Relief and Leading Faith Groups Urge Mike Pompeo to Protect Persecuted Refugees
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
June 20, 2019
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
carl@pinkstongroup.com
703-388-6734
Today on World Refugee Day, World Relief and Leading Faith Groups Urge Mike Pompeo to Protect Persecuted Refugees
BALTIMORE, Md. – Today, World Relief and 41 other leading faith organizations released a letter to Secretary of State Pompeo urging the administration to increase the number of refugees resettled in the U.S., particularly those who are fleeing persecution as religious minorities in their country of origin. At a time when there are more than 70 million people forcibly displaced, the group believes a renewed commitment to U.S. refugee resettlement must be a core part of our foreign policy agenda, in coordination with promoting international religious freedom abroad.
World Relief released the letter with an infographic and held a press call to highlight refugees’ global needs and urge the U.S. to accept more refugees on World Refugee Day.
Rebecca Linder Blachly, Director of the Office of Government Relations and Staff of the Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church, moderated the call. She commented: “We’re excited to speak about the importance of World Refugee Day and religious freedom. The entire global community commemorates the strength of refugees worldwide, recognizing their resilience on World Refugee Day. We see the ongoing need to resettle the world’s most vulnerable refugees through the U.S.’s refugee program. The Episcopal Church joined because we believe refugee resettlement is a key way we can live into our commitment to protect those fleeing religious persecution and welcome refugees. We believe it is a key tenet of our faith to do so.”
Pari Ibrahim, Founder and Executive Director, Free Yezidi Foundation commented: “While ISIS is militarily defeated, they are not gone yet. We are very concerned about the tens of thousands of members who remain in Syria and Iraq. Security is one of the main reasons why Yezidis are displaced and why religious minorities do not feel safe in Iraq and want to start a future for their children in another country. As a Yezidi, it is really shocking to me that a big country like the U.S. only took in 20 Yezidis last year – especially because the U.S. is pushing so much for religious freedom, and Vice President Pence declared the ISIS attack against the Yezidi community a genocide. If this is the case, why are only 20 Yezidis projected to be resettled in 2019 and only 5 were resettled in 2018? Our people are among the most desperate and in need of a new start. We encourage the U.S. to do more for people in such desperate situations.”
Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism commented: “Cuts to the refugee resettlement program diminish the U.S. government’s resolve to protecting religious freedom. As Jews, we understand the importance of standing in solidarity with those persecuted for simply practicing their faith. We both know the pain of being turned away from America’s shores and the power of finding refuge in this country.”
Melanie Nezer, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, HIAS, commented: “140 years after HIAS began serving Kosher meals to refugees at the docks, we’re doing basically the same work. Refugees still need our help. Each number represents a real story and human we have the power to save. We are concerned about the long term impact of the steps the administration has taken to dismantle the program; the smaller numbers lead to a weaker national program. This is a system that took 40 years to build and will take years to rebuild if we continue down this path. If we’re not protecting the people fleeing religious persecution, it sends a signal – not only to those fleeing, but also to the persecutors, themselves – that we don’t care.”
Jenny Yang, Vice President of Advocacy and Policy, World Relief, commented: “World Relief is proud to have a longstanding partnership with the U.S. State Department as one of the nine refugee resettlement agencies, and we have witnessed firsthand the incredible impact for good that refugees bring to communities all around the country. It’s disconcerting to see fewer numbers of refugees resettled to the U.S. when we should be accepting more, because it means that more refugees are not allowed safety from persecution. it also weakens the U.S. goal of promoting international religious freedom abroad.”
Arooj Nirmal, Pakistani refugee resettled to Spokane, WA, commented: “I came into the U.S. in 2017 and World Relief received me at the airport and has taken care of me until now. Before that, we lived in Sri Lanka for four years as refugees. Christians are persecuted there, and we got in trouble. I left, but my husband is still in a dangerous place, trying to join me. We’ve been apart for a long time. I have a strong faith in God, and believe one day he will make a miracle for us to get back together. I look forward for my husband to join me, and for now I’m just waiting. I am thankful to World Relief for helping me speak about this persecution and what’s going on around the world.”
Durmomo Gary, Sudanese refugee resettled to Wheaton, IL, commented: “I arrived in U.S. in 2006. When I was pushed out, there was only one Sudan. Life has been difficult for a long time. As a Christian, I was denied many opportunities. My father was shot before I was born simply because he was a Christian. I accepted that persecution was what Christians go through – until I found out there was a warrant out for my life. I had to choose: to stay and die or seek another opportunity. I had to leave without knowing where I was going. When I got to the U.S., I was welcomed by a local church, of which I am proud to say I am now a member. They welcomed me and helped me start my life. I used to be afraid to go to church, but now I can go without fear. I’ve even become a pastor at a local church. If it weren’t for the resettlement program, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today. I wouldn’t have been able to be used by God to serve churches. Thank you for letting me be here and serve God.”
Jen Smyers, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Immigration and Refugee Program, Church World Service, commented: “The United States needs to reclaim our legacy as a leader in refugee protection and resettlement, especially during today’s global refugee crisis. That’s why we’re calling on the administration to return the resettlement program to historic norms, and we call on Congress, the media and the public to hold them accountable to that end.”
The call covered the declining refugee resettlement numbers in the U.S. and the persecution facing refugees around the world. Participants urged the administration to restore the ceiling for refugee admissions to the average annual cap of 95,000 refugees this year.
Additional information about World Relief’s World Refugee Day activities will be released in the coming days. Full text of the letter is available here, and view the infographic here.
Download the PDF version of this press release.
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About World Relief:
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the world’s most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
World Refugee Day 2019
On World Refugee Day we want to shine a light on the individuals, from multiple countries who have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety and future.
A Call to Stand for Religious Freedom
Today, June 20th, marks World Refugee Day. According to just released data by UNHCR, there are more than 70 million displaced persons around the world. Half of them are children, and in 2018, 13.6 million people were newly displaced. When the world is seeing historic levels of displacement, we have the opportunity to help. Strengthening refugee resettlement will help not only promote international religious freedom but also be a life-saving tool of protection for a small number of vulnerable refugees. With 40 signatories from a wide range of faith traditions, we ask U.S. government leaders to remember a deeply rooted belief that each person should be able to freely practice their faith.
Refugees and Displaced People Around the World
Behind every journey is sacrifice, love and hope – behind every person is a unique story to be celebrated and honored.
As refugee and immigrant families resettle into their new homes, lives are not only being rebuilt but hundreds of people are thriving through the love and support of community.
Watch and learn about these journeys to a new land.
Refugees and Displaced People Around the World
For over 75 years, we’ve been coming alongside families displaced by violence, poverty and injustice — both in the U.S. and across the world.
Today, more than 70 million people have been displaced from their home due to war, persecution or violence. That’s one man, woman or child every 2 seconds. This global crisis is the worst its been since World War II, and continues to worsen.
But with your help, we have been able to serve thousands around the world.
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