THIS FORM IS FOR FAITH ORGANIZATIONS/DENOMINATIONS. IF YOU ARE SIGNING ON AS A FAITH LEADER, PLEASE USE THIS FORM:
https://forms.gle/dxio8EjoCf1xdQrP7Please contact Elissa Diaz,
ediaz@cwsglobal.org, with any questions.
April X, 2021
The Honorable Patrick Leahy, Chairman
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. Senate
Room S-128, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Richard Shelby, Vice Chairman
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. Senate
Room S-128, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Chairwoman
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
Room H-307, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Kay Granger, Ranking Member
Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
Room H-307, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
CC:
The Honorable Charles Schumer
The Honorable Mitch McConnel
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
April #, 2021
Dear Chairman Leahy, Vice Chairman Shelby, Chairwoman DeLauro, and Ranking Member Granger:
As xx religious leaders and xx faith-based organizations across traditions, we write to urge you to support the rebuilding and strengthening of the refugee resettlement program. As you consider funding for Fiscal Year 2022, we urge you to invest in supporting a compassionate, just, and humane immigration and refugee resettlement system that upholds our nation’s values by supporting robust funds to support refugees and other forcibly displaced populations in Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) and opposing federal funding that drives unjust immigration enforcement, detention, and border militarization policies.
We are called by our sacred texts and faith principles to love our neighbor, accompany the vulnerable, and welcome the sojourner. Our congregations, synagogues, and mosques have historically played key roles in the bipartisan U.S. resettlement program, an important public-private partnership that advances U.S. foreign policy goals, supports our national security, and saves lives. Refugees are powerful ambassadors of our founding principles of equal opportunity, religious freedom, and liberty and justice for all.
Given President Biden’s commitments to return to global leadership on refugee protection and in light of unprecedented global resettlement needs, funding needs are projected to increase substantially in FY22 to support the restoration of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Additionally, refugees resettled in the United States, just like all of us, share the vulnerabilities and challenges related to COVID-19. Like many U.S. citizens, many refugees resettled in the United States are among the essential workers, providing healthcare and maintaining the U.S. food supply chain. But as newcomers to the U.S., and as individuals who have lost their country, loved ones, and virtually all possessions, their needs are particularly acute. Leaving out some communities leaves all communities at greater risk. It is critical that the administration and U.S. communities, including faith communities ready to welcome refugees, have the capacity they need to help refugees integrate and thrive.
We recommend the following funding levels for FY22 for refugee-related accounts:
We recommend $4.936 billion for the Refugee and Entrant (REA) Assistance account that funds the Office of Refugee Resettlement in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill. The Refugee and Entrant Assistance (REA) Account provides critical initial investments in the long-term integration and economic success of new Americans, including individuals and families who are rebuilding lives after surviving persecution, torture, trauma, and human trafficking.
In the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs) appropriations bill, we recommend $4.118 billion for the Department of State’s Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account; $50 million for the Department of State’s Emergency Refugee and Migration (ERMA) account (including authorizing the account at $200 million and allowing the Secretary of State to draw down on its funds); and $5.274 billion for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s International Disaster Assistance (IDA) account. After fleeing persecution, conflict, war, and violence, refugees and other forcibly displaced people often lack access to basic necessities, including healthy food, clean water, safe shelter, education, access to healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and legal protections. U.S. funding helps to meet the basic human needs of persons fleeing persecution while they are displaced; helps to identify permanent solutions to their displacement; and supports the countries hosting them. The U.S. helps to relieve pressures that have the potential to destabilize sensitive regions and threaten global stability and security.
It is equally important that Congress invest in effective, humane community-based case management and support programs offering humanitarian assistance to individuals encountered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Therefore, within the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), we strongly support a pilot for federally funded respite shelters/welcome centers, funding for a study on where community support services, including case management, should permanently reside, and a pilot for case management for asylum seekers funded out of ORR. Specifically, we recommend the following funding levels for these programs:
We recommend authorization of $36,000,000 for a Border Reception and Welcome Center Pilot Program instituted by the Office of Refugee Resettlement to support the construction of reception centers along the border that shall provide humanitarian assistance to individuals encountered by DHS, including basic medical care, psychosocial support, orientation to legal responsibilities and rights, referrals to community-based case management services at destination cities, and facilitation of onward travel.
We recommend $55,880,000 for the Refugee and Entrant (REA) Assistance account to fund an ORR pilot program for asylum seeker case management service provision. Currently, the lack of access to essential services can have a devastating impact on the ability to successfully navigate the asylum process and ability to heal from the experiences asylum seekers have faced. Funds made available for the “Asylum Seeker Case Management Pilot Program” shall support non-profit, community-based programs that provide community support services, including legal, housing, transportation, education, social, job training, English language, food security, healthcare, medical, and mental health services.
We urge Congress to provide $500,000 for the Office of Refugee Resettlement to fund a study of where community support services, including case management and access to legal services, for immigrants and asylum seekers should be housed outside of DHS, and which additional funding and staffing investments may be needed to ensure successful administration of these services.
Now is the time for Congress to allocate funding to programs that align with our American values of freedom, compassion, and opportunity. Communities across the country are voicing their support for refugees and recognize refugees as a source of strength and contribution to their cities and states. We urge you to continue your bipartisan efforts to support those fleeing for their lives overseas, refugees and other vulnerable groups in the United States, and the communities that welcome them. During this challenging time, we urge you to support a return to America’s humanitarian tradition and leadership by robustly funding these accounts during the FY22 appropriations process.
We appeal to your humanity, as we have a moral obligation to love our neighbor and care for the most vulnerable among us.
Sincerely,
