Krish O'Mara Vignarajah

Job Opportunities Director for Digital Marketing and Donor Strategy (USA) This position will develop and implement digital marketing and individual giving strategies in order to meet Global Refuge's targets for growing supporters. Program Specialist for Referral Management (Baltimore, MD, USA) This position will engage collaboratively with teh Children and Family Services unit to provide referral management to foster care and reunification affiliate staff and stakeholders. Trabajador(a) Social (Mexico, D.F., MEX) El/la trabajador(a) social es responsable de administrar evaluaciones y coordinar servicios para garantizar servicios clínicos de alta calidad para los menores y adultos jóvenes mexicanos recientemente repatriados y/o refugiados. Learn more: globalrefuge.org/careers [Global Refuge logo]

#NowHiring: Join our team in the work of welcome!

Global Refuge is currently hiring for ✨29✨ positions across the United States and Mexico. Apply today! ⤵️

🔗 globalrefuge.org/careers

Terminating TPS for Afghans is wrong Afghan allies will lose temporary status under TPS termination

The termination of TPS for Afghanistan went into effect last night (July 21), leaving up to 11,700 Afghans in the U.S. without protection from deportation and, in many cases, without valid work authorization. #TPS4Afghans

🚨 TAKE ACTION: globalrefuge.org/TPS4Afghans
📰 Full statement: bit.ly/44U296U

Immigration as America’s Superpower: Krish O’Mara Vignarajah on Fighting Fiction with Fact  - Denver Frederick My guest today is a bold and passionate leader guiding one of the country’s most vital humanitarian organizations. Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is the President and CEO of Global Refuge, formerly known as ...

Thanks to Denver Frederick for having me on the Business of Giving to talk about fighting fiction with fact, the challenges Global Refuge has faced this year, how we’re still out there doing the work of welcome, and how you can help.

denver-frederick.com/2025/07/17/i...

NEW from Bloomberg: Global Refuge weigh in on the Trump admin's efforts to curtail healthcare access for immigrants and refugees.

“We’re witnessing a multi-front campaign that is quietly but systematically cutting off access to care for immigrants and refugees,” said @krishvignarajah.bsky.social.

As I shared on @theweekendprime.bsky.social, we’re witnessing the largest “de-documentation” effort in modern US history.

That runs contrary to the will of the American people, who overwhelmingly support a balanced approach between border security and functional legal immigration pathways.

Lawsuit against Maryland’s federal judges sets dangerous precedent | GUEST COMMENTARY For the first time in American history, the U.S. Department of Justice has sued an entire bench of federal justices, writes Krish O’Mara Vignarajah.

The DOJ is suing EVERY federal judge in Maryland — just for doing their job.

In my new @baltimoresun.bsky.social OpEd, I explain why this isn’t just about immigration. It’s about the rule of law. And what’s at stake for all of us. ⤵️
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/28/l...

NEW: I joined @theweekendprime.bsky.social to discuss the impact of this week’s SCOTUS ruling on birthright citizenship and beyond.

Very grateful to @crampell.bsky.social, @ayman.msnbc.com, @elisejordan.bsky.social, and @ahylton26.bsky.social for such thoughtful questions on these important issues.

Finally and importantly, today’s ruling does NOT decide whether President Trump’s executive order itself is constitutional. That is a question that remains before the lower courts, and the struggle to protect this bedrock right will continue.

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We have already heard concern from families who are unsure whether their U.S.-born children will be recognized as citizens, and who fear what might come next.

This fractured approach is unworkable, unjust, and out of step with our values as a nation.

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Birthright citizenship has been settled constitutional law for more than a century. By denying lower courts the ability to enforce that right uniformly, the Court has invited chaos, inequality, and fear.

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Birthright Citizenship: Supreme Court Limits Nationwide Injunctions Supreme Court restricts lower federal courts from issuing nationwide injunctions, narrowing protections against efforts to curtail birthright citizenship.

Our @globalrefuge.bsky.social statement on today's #SCOTUS ruling.

Today’s ruling opens the door to a dangerous patchwork of rights in this country, where a child’s citizenship may now depend on the judicial district in which they’re born.

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www.globalrefuge.org/news/supreme...

Ahead of World Refugee Day on Friday, @globalrefuge.bsky.social hosted a webinar to discuss the state of refugee advocacy and policy.

Thanks so much to @repyassansari.bsky.social for your continued dedication to the plight of refugees and for giving opening remarks today!

Why the White House may have chosen the countries it did for its new travel ban The Trump administration's new travel ban puts a full ban on 12 countries and partial restrictions on seven others. NPR looks at why the White House may have chosen the countries that it did.

Full segment here…

www.npr.org/2025/06/10/n...

As I told NPR’s Morning Edition, the new Travel Ban is part of a much broader effort — one that has seen this administration move swiftly and systematically to close LEGAL pathways and protections across the immigration system.

Link to full segment by @francoordonez.bsky.social below 👇

“America's strength has never come from shutting people out. It's come from opening doors — carefully and responsibly — but with the courage to recognize the humanity in people.”

Watch and share this clip of our President and CEO, @krishvignarajah.bsky.social, discussing the new Travel Ban. 👇

Thank you @anacabrera.bsky.social for having me on @msnbc.com to talk about the Trump administration’s sweeping new Travel Ban — and why it’s deeply problematic in terms of our humanitarian leadership, family reunification, and our economy.

Trump travel ban rattles immigrant communities across U.S. Haitian, Afghan and Iranian immigrants say the policy has dashed their dreams of reuniting with family. Many worry about their place in America.

“It effectively says: because of where you’re from, your family doesn’t deserve the same chance to be together. You don’t deserve the chance to make your case.”

@krishvignarajah.bsky.social, President of @globalrefuge.bsky.social on the new Travel Ban.

www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Global Refuge Deeply Concerned Over Sweeping Travel Ban The Trump administration announced a sweeping new travel ban, fully restricting entry to nationals from twelve countries.

🚨BREAKING: Global Refuge is deeply concerned over sweeping #TravelBan. 🚨

“While national security is an important priority, indiscriminate restrictions against entire nationalities should not supersede the merits of an individual visa application” -@krishvignarajah.bsky.social.

🔗 bit.ly/4kmV6Kt

WMC Live #475: Seeking Global Refuge. (Original Airdate 6/1/2025) - Women’s Media Center Robin reports the realities of the lives endured by women and children refugees and migrants with her guest, Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge—herself an immigrant.

Thanks to Women's Media Center Live for having me on to talk about the state of refugee resettlement and particularly the plight of women and girl refugees and migrants.

womensmediacenter.com/wmclive/wmc-...

My take on this ruling on MSNBC:

These families played by the rules. They had U.S.-based sponsors, passed security screenings, paid for their own travel, and began rebuilding their lives.

Rescinding protections is a moral injury to the Americans who stepped up to welcome them.

When I spoke at Goucher on Friday, I didn’t know how quickly these words would become so relevant.
 
Yesterday, the new administration paused visa interviews for international students in a policy shift that treats them as threats — instead of the assets they truly are.

"Your value lies in your willingness to build bridges where others would build walls."

New relevance in @krishvignarajah.bsky.social's commencement address to Goucher College, which came just days before the Trump administration paused all visa interviews for international students.

Today I’m honored to be the Goucher College commencement speaker. Watch live at 10 am!

www.goucher.edu/commencement...

I’m on Instagram! Follow along for my thoughts, news, and updates on @globalrefuge.bsky.social’s work! Find me at @krishvignarajah.

I kicked things off by sharing my story and thought I’d share it here too for those of you who are new to me and Global Refuge!

DHS says it’s safe to deport Afghans back to the Taliban because the regime is promoting tourism and had 7,000 visitors in 2023.

@krishvignarajah.bsky.social absolutely eviscerates this absurd claim in @forbes.com, particularly when it comes to women and girls.

www.forbes.com/sites/stuart...

What an inspiring conversation with Cynthia Cifuentes at the @thebaltimorebanner.com's InnovateHer event! We explored everything from the power of mentorship to embracing the full journey of motherhood. A truly uplifting celebration of dynamic, trailblazing women!

America closed: The refugee crisis at our front door Oregon On The Record discusses the challenges faced by refugees in America due to the Trump administration's policies. Krish Vignarajah, CEO of Global Refuge, and Dave Duea, CEO of Lutheran Community ...

I was honored to join my friend David Duea of Lutheran Community Services Northwest on @klccoregon.bsky.social Oregon on the Record to talk about the effects of the dismantling of the refugee resettlement program, on both a national and local level.

www.klcc.org/podcast/oreg...

Sticks up, smiles out! Caught a great game and even better company at the Navy vs. Loyola Patriot League Championship lacrosse match. Proud to support powerhouse women on and off the field! 🥍

The first 100 days of the new administration brought sweeping change to US immigration policy, so I broke down the basics for you.

Remember although policies may change, our shared values of compassion, justice, and welcome endure.

As I shared with @thehill.com, these first 100 days have seen the White House move to undermine nearly every legal pathway designed to protect people fleeing violence, persecution, and disaster.

thehill.com/homenews/adm...