January 27 will mark one year since the administration’s refugee and travel bans were implemented. Throughout this past year, we have seen the negative impact these restrictive policies have had on our nation’s historic refugee resettlement program and on the lives of thousands of individuals who are seeking safety and attempting to reunite with family.

Episcopalians can join in marking this anniversary by speaking out to elected officials, hosting educational awareness events, and partnering with Episcopal Migration Ministries and local resttlement affiliates to support refugees. 

Below are several resources aimed at assisting you as you speak out to welcome refugees!

Join with Us and Ask Congress and the Administration: #WhereRTheRefugees?

Where are the refugees? The Trump Administration set a historically low refugee admissions ceiling of 45,000 this year, down from 110,000 the previous year. Yet according to the Refugee Council USA Monthly Report Card, at its current rate, the US would only resettle an estimated 15,000 refugees this year. Send a message to your members of Congress to say you welcome refugees & want to see the U.S. continue to be a leader in humanitarian protection.

Download the Toolkit to Plan and Take Part in an Event Around January 27

January 27th is a critical date, as people and policy makers across the country remember the actions they took that day in 2017 and recommit to solidarity with Muslims, refugees, and all immigrants. This toolkit holds a host of resources to assist you as you plug into local events, host you own event with your church or place an op-ed to help others understand the impact of the bans on refugees and immigrants. Download the toolkit here. 

Partner with Episcopal Migration Ministries

Join Allison Duvall and Kendall Martin of Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resttlement ministry of the Episcopal Church, for Hometown, a podcast featuring voices from across the US, the Episcopal Church, and the New American Community. The podcast is Episcopal Migration Ministries’ contribution to the Good Book Club, a project of Forward Movement that invites all Episcopalians to join in reading the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts during the Lent and Easter seasons. Podcast episodes will feature a reflection on the week’s reading, facts and figures about refugee resettlement, and an interview with a new American. Listen to a promo for Hometown here. Episodes will be released weekly starting February 11 through May 20.

Give a Gift to Support Refugees

Be a voice of welcome and beacon of hope for newly arrived refugees through a virtual gift for friends or family. Show your support by purchasing a gift through our online catalogue, ensuring refugee families have a warm welcome to their new home, community orientation, access to English Classes, childcare, or support for basic needs. Contact EMM for more info. 

Share Your Story

Post on social media using #RefugeesWelcome and #WhereRTheRefugees and tag @EMMRefugees and @TheEPPN to share why your faith calls you to welcome refugees. 

Additional Resources

• Meet A Couple Separated By Thousands of Miles and America’s New Refugee Policies
• Become an ally, ambassador, and advocate for refugees at Love God, Love Neighbor Training in Atlanta in May
• EPPN takes on Charleston this week for the FORMA Conference 2018.