Refugee Action Network

What a morning! Refugee Action Network convened in-person for the first time in 3.5 years, and what a reunion it was. As a way of reintroducing ourselves, and to celebrate Little Amal's stop in Chicago, we created our own puppets that represented our heroes/someone who inspires us to do the work we do. The Walk

For 2 years, Afghan refugees have worked tirelessly to establish their lives in the US - finding jobs, attending schools, opening businesses, buying homes. They are our friends and neighbors and now they are at risk of losing permanent status here in the US. and pass the

To learn more, read this blog post from our friends at Urban Institute:

How Temporary Immigration Status Has Affected Afghan Evacuees in the US With the two-year temporary immigration status for Afghan evacuees set to expire soon and the immigration cases of many in limbo, there are concrete effects of this status on their integration and success in the US.

This week marks the 2 year anniversary of the evacuation of Kabul and despite our commitment to provide safety to our Afghan allies, thousands of Afghans remain at risk and thousands more lack permanent status here in the US. We must pass the now!
https://cwsglobal.org/action-alerts/take-action-urge-congress-to-pass-the-afghan-adjustment-act-to-protect-afghans-at-risk/

CALLING ANY CHICAGO-BASED, MALE AFGHAN EVACUEES! The Urban Insitute would like to interview you about your experience in Chicago thus far! To our network, please help us disseminate this information by sharing across your networks!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM CHICAGO-BASED AFGHAN EVACUEES! Our partners at The Urban Institute are conducting a study to understand how the Afghan evacuees are faring a year and a half after their arrival to the United States. For the study, we are seeking individuals to participate in 90-minute, in-person interviews to discuss their resettlement experience.

Please see the attached flyers in English, Dari and Pashto for more information, and circulate within your networks!

Ald. Andre Vasquez of the 40th Ward, the new Chair for the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, will be hosting an inaugural meeting in his new role of the Committee on Immigrant at Refugee Rights TOMORROW at City Hall at 11am. See the below post for more details!

Ald. Vasquez to Chair his first Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights meeting Alderperson Vasquez will host the inaugural meeting of the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights as its Chair for the 2023 – 2027 term. He will be looking for passage of his Resolution C…

WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2023! Thank you to the community members, organizations, and legislative representatives who came out to Daley Plaza on Tuesday and to Foster Beach on Saturday to share the power of refugee voices AND to celebrate diverse culture in food, music, dance, and sport. Our city, state, and nation are made more beautiful by rich culture, made possible by ensuring the safety, rights and dignities of all new arrivals to this country.

WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2023! Thank you to the community members, organizations, and legislative representatives who came out to Daley Plaza on Tuesday and to Foster Beach on Saturday to share the power of refugee voices AND to celebrate diverse culture in food, music, dance, and sport. Our city, state and nation are made more beautiful by rich culture, made possible by ensuring the safety, rights and dignities of all new arrivals to this country.

On this , we at Refugee Action Network honor the experiences of our Black ancestors who suffered throughout our nation's history. While we celebrate historic liberation on this day, we also acknowledge the ongoing fight for racial equity and justice. We stand today and everyday with Black refugees and migrants who seek to make their home in Illinois and across this country, and who face disproportionate rates of deportation and detention. We believe in a country that welcomes individuals and families fleeing persecution with care and understanding, from every country, culture, religion and ethnicity, that preserves their rights and dignities.

We invite you to celebrate and advocate on behalf of refugees on World Refugee Day TOMORROW at Daley Plaza, 12pm Central. We look forward to seeing many of you there!

This week in DC, Refugee Council USA is hosting their annual . More than 100 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. We must support the , and the for New Americans Act to help our refugee, immigrant and asylum seeker neighbors thrive!