REFUGEES facing posisble deportation 

New USCIS memo may reopen over 200,000 refugees cases 

We received news last night through an internal USCIS memo that the current administrations is reopening the cases of refugees admitted during the Biden administration. This is includes over 200,000 refugees who were admitted during that period and who are currently living in cities across the United States. If acted on this policy would force people who have gone through untold trauma and persecution to relive that trauma and also put them at risk of being deported back to the countries where they were forced to escape because of persecution. 

This memo would include Christians around the world who have been persecuted for their faith and our wartime allies that came to the US seeking refuge because of their involvement with the US military. Many refugees have spent decades in refugee camps or countries that were not their own in order to enter the US legally. Additionally, each of the individuals included in this policy had to go through years of thorough vetting by the US government before being admitted as refugees. The end result is them being admitted to the US as lawful persons that have a pathway to permanent citizenship.

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The policy also includes a halt to greencard processing for refugees. Putting even more people at risk and further preventing the reunification of families that rely on this step in the process to bring family over that are still in dire situations back in their home countries. 

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A policy like this would open up our most vulnerable neighbors to deportation. Neighbors who have spent decades working through our immigration system to be in the United States as legal permanent residents. A promise we made to them when they came from across the globe to seek sanctuary in the the US. We believe that we have a moral and ethical obligation to see that we honor the commitments we made to this population that includes some of the most vulnerable and marginalized people in the world.

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Rising Village will continue to serve and advocate for our refugee and immigrant neighbors during this difficult time and we urge people to voice their opinions to elected officials. We believe that our nation's policies should be safe and dignifying for all who call our great nation home. 

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For a more detailed explanation of the policy and its effects check out The National Immigration Forum's article linked below.

Explainer: USCIS Internal Memo on Review of Admitted Refugees