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9 Ways You Can Help Afghan Refugees Today
I believe with all my heart that even though our situations and talents and experiences are different, we can still find ways to help others — no matter where we are physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially. Here are nine ways any of us can come to the aid of our Afghan sisters and brothers. 1. Pray Pray for those who are suffering in Afghanistan. Pray for those across the world with relatives in Afghanistan who are worrying about their family members’ safety. Pray that as many people as possible can get to safety. Pray for those unable to get out. Pray for our government and governments across the world to…
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Are You Aware? A Work in Translation
This is part IV in our “The Latin Experience in the States” Awareness Wednesday series. Read the other posts in the series here. Earlier this month, I was in line at a food truck. In front of me was a young woman, about 15 years old, with her parents. As they stepped forward to order, I heard the young woman translate the menu for her parents from English to Spanish. In Spanish, she explained the menu choices and then proceeded to order for them. Watching as she helped her parents order food flooded me with memories of my own childhood. From an early age of 11 or 12, I did much…
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Are You Aware? If Language Was an American Dream
This is part III in our “The Latin Experience in the States” Awareness Wednesday series. Read the other posts in the series here. Many immigrants to the U.S. won’t have the same experiences I’ve had, because of how I came to the U.S. My intention was to study here and to go back home. But life always plays a different tune. Growing up in a family that loved languages has been a blessing in my life. When I was a little girl, my dad invited people from all over the world to eat with us in our home in Sao Paulo, Brazil. At the age of 8, my dad asked me…
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Are You Aware? Latinx Diversity and Contributions
This is part II in our “The Latin Experience in the States” Awareness Wednesday series. Read the other posts in the series here. NOTE: Throughout this article, the terms Latino, Latina, Latinx, and Hispanic are being used interchangeably to refer to the same group of people. I never thought that immigrating to the U.S. was going to be part of my life’s journey. I grew up hearing about the “American Dream” and the idea of what that meant through TV shows and movies. I remember hearing the “dislike” in people’s comments when they heard the word “America” was used interchangeably with the United States of America. It was accompanied by the…
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MWEG Member Op-Ed :: “Congress Does Not ‘CARE’ About My American Family”
“Intentionally disqualifying millions of Americans from much-needed stimulus funds during this unprecedented health crisis is both unnecessary and cruel. It also further contributes to the demonization of immigration and labeling of immigrants—and their citizen family members—as unworthy.” MWEG member Dr. Jane Lilly López will not receive the stimulus funds due to her, despite the fact that she is a U.S. citizen who paid thousands in taxes in 2019. Read her op-ed to learn more about the American families who are being excluded from the “CARES” relief bill. “Congress Does Not ‘Care’ About My American Family” • April 24, 2020 • The Appeal
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Pray for Truth
It’s been a rough week for a lot of us in the U.S. Our rule of law seems under siege by leaders attempting to redraw lines between right and wrong, blurring once-common notions of truth. This reality played out this week in my home city of Boston, where a U.S. Customs official ignored an order from a federal court and deported an Iranian Northeastern University student who was here legally with a student visa. In the span of those same few days, the U.S. Senate, presiding over the impeachment trial of our sitting president on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice, continued to attempt to conduct a…
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Volunteering at the Southern Border
The U.S. has seen an unprecedented surge of asylum seekers along our southern border in the past several months. Most come through the process weary and confused. They carry no personal possessions and require assistance to carry on with their travels. Respite centers in key border towns have become safe and welcoming shelters for these vulnerable people. Rio Grande Valley Catholic Charities Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, for instance, offers a hot meal and clean water, basic hygiene necessities, a fresh set of clothing, and access to medicine and basic medical attention for those in need. Families can enjoy a hot meal together in the dining hall. There are spacious…
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Refugee Resettlement — We Must Do More
Can we talk about refugee resettlement? One of the most common arguments I hear against resettlement is that we should help people where they are rather than try to help them move to the U.S. This attitude is particularly concerning as the U.S. proposes to again cut refugee resettlement, this time to only 18,000 people in 2020. Only about 1% of refugees worldwide are resettled in a third country, although those are the refugees an American or European is most likely to have met. If the U.S. cuts its resettlement program again, it will have a noticeable impact on worldwide refugee resettlement in 2020, and that is very troubling.Most refugees…
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Sabbath Devotional :: Room in my Heart
In December 2016, two months after I began volunteering for Refugee Services of Texas, I saw an opening for a position teaching English to recently arrived refugees. I hadn’t worked outside the home in years, but felt teaching was part of God’s path for me. I never could have imagined how interacting with such an incredible group of people would change me. Making room in my heart for those who suffer unimaginable burdens has made a lasting impact on me, and I am forever grateful. A few days before class began, I received a list containing all my students’ names, ages, marital statuses, levels of education and countries of origin.…
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Immigration Information :: An Asylum Law Update
The Supreme Court recently allowed the Trump administration to prevent most Central American migrants from seeking asylum in the United States. Current threats to U.S. asylum law are complicated, but we feel compelled to make every effort to understand the issues. Because of the complexity of the matter, even this summary is lengthy. I strongly encourage everyone to read — in full — each source referenced here. Every link included in this summary provides more information and detail. Supreme Court Ruling in Barr v. East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, issued Sept. 11, 2019 BACKGROUND: Asylum Law United States codified asylum law is that, “in general, any alien who is physically present…
