International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)

Newly Released Government Documents Confirm Policy Delaying Green Card Applications Filed by Refugees and Asylees | International Refugee Assistance Project

IRAP has shared newly released government documents obtained through a FOIA request and related litigation that confirm a policy delaying green card applications filed by refugees and asylees.

Learn more: refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

In a time when so much feels out of our control, we can still show up for each other. Every small act of welcome can make our communities stronger, safer, & more connected.
✅Sign the #WeWillWelcome pledge: bit.ly/WelcomingPle...
🤝Do one small act of welcome.
📢Spread the word.

After HIAS Lawsuit, a Refugee Family Begins New Life in U.S. After a judge ruled that the U.S. must admit some refugees in spite the Trump administration's ban, a family of eight began a new life.

After 20 years of waiting, a refugee family has finally made it to safety 🤲

The family of eight is HIAS’ first resettlement case since January 20, when President Trump halted the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program on his first day in office.

This is what starting over with dignity looks like:

Welcoming Pledge

The #FreedomToWelcome week of action might be over, but the work doesn’t stop here. Now it’s your turn. Sign the pledge. Commit to one act of welcome. Help make our communities more welcoming for everyone.
#WeWillWelcome
bit.ly/WelcomingPle...

ICYMI: The #BigUglyBill excludes refugees from accessing healthcare and food assistance, despite refugees helping sustain public benefits for ALL Americans.

Read more: refugeerights.org/news-resourc...

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Everyone has a voice - the #FreedomToSpeak. It’s up to us to decide how we want to use it.
#AdvocacyDays are a great way to use your voice, share your story & keep our communities welcoming.
Register now to @weareallamerica.bsky.social this September: bit.ly/advocacy2025
#WeWillWelcome

Judge orders government to admit more refugees whose flights were canceled (RNS) — According to the government, as many as 12,000 refugees had made travel plans to the U.S. before the refugee freeze. They may all press their case now.

NEW: Judge orders government to admit more refugees whose flights were canceled

“This is a welcome order that puts in place a very clear framework for the government to follow in order to ensure that they comply." - Mevlüde Akay Alp, IRAP

Across generations, we’ve come together to create a better life for ourselves & our families. Accessing education is one way Kateryna, Anita, & Claudia have done just that.
Together we can make communities where everyone has the #FreedomToLearn, grow & thrive.
#WeWillWelcome

Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' Will Have Devastating Consequences for Refugees | International Refugee Assistance Project

🚨 The #BigUglyBill will prevent refugees from accessing healthcare and food assistance.

IRAP’s latest blog unpacks why this bill is devastating for refugees, how refugees help sustain public benefits programs for ALL Americans, and how this bill undermines fundamental promises of protection.

“We are delighted that Pacito and his family are finally receiving justice. But we cannot forget the thousands who are still languishing in dangerous conditions and longing to see their families again. We will continue to fight this unlawful refugee ban.” - Melissa Keaney, IRAP

“I feel like I’m blessed. Someone who has never been a refugee cannot understand that refugees do suffer… But we pray and hope that this case will open the way for them and they get a chance to change their life.” - Refugee plaintiff Pacito

Refugees Arrive in United States Under Court Order

BREAKING: Last night, refugee plaintiff Pacito and his family safely resettled in the U.S. under a court order in the case challenging Trump’s #RefugeeBan.

Read the full statement:

We have the freedom to welcome - let’s express it together.

Join us July 14th through the 18th for a Week of Action by pledging your commitment to building inclusive, safe, and resilient communities. Add your name today.

#WeWillWelcome
bit.ly/WelcomingPle...

Asian refugees in a dangerous “limbo,” following Trump bans on resettlement in U.S. — Many live in hiding, dangerous situations As more than 500 people—some refugees and immigrants—celebraed becoming United States citizens in Seattle’s 40th annual naturalization ceremony over the weekend, the fate of 160 refugees still hang…

"...to have so much hope, and to make plans for this really difficult and life changing move to safety, only to be abruptly told that those plans are on hold indefinitely and that planned family reunification and resettlement may not happen, is just crushing.”

nwasianweekly.com/2025/07/asia...

“Broken Priorities”: IRAP Decries Expansion of Anti-Immigrant Agenda Under Reconciliation Bill | International Refugee Assistance Project

BREAKING: IRAP Decries Expansion of Anti-Immigrant Agenda

“This bill represents deeply broken priorities. It takes away funding for vital services from those who need them the most and puts that money toward tax breaks for billionaires and attacks on immigrant communities."

Welcoming Pledge

In a time when so much feels out of our control, we can still choose to show up for each other. Every small act of welcome can make our communities stronger, safer, and more connected.
✅Sign the #WeWillWelcome pledge: bit.ly/WelcomingPle...
🤝Do an act of welcome.
📢Spread the word.

U.S. Government Ordered to Comply with Court Orders in Refugee Ban Lawsuit or Face Sanctions 

BREAKING: the Trump admin says it will apply its unlawful #TravelBan to refugees. We're fighting back in court.

"The refugee ban is unlawful, the travel ban is unlawful, and the administration must not be allowed to evade court orders by engaging in a game of whack-a-mole again and again."

On World Refugee Day, scores of families approved for resettlement in US are stuck in limbo A lawsuit challenging Trump's executive order banning refugees offers hope to families who had been approved for resettlement in US

“Every refugee who enters is someone who is able to pursue the life that they are meant to be able to pursue here... . So every single arrival is something worth celebrating, and more should be coming!” IRAP's Laurie Ball Cooper in Middle East Eye: www.middleeasteye.net/news/how-law...

REP TED LIEU AND SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN LEAD 23 SENATORS AND 49 MEMBERS IN INTRODUCING RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING WORLD REFUGEE DAY WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a resolution to honor World Refuge...

"On #WorldRefugeeDay, we are reminded that the right to seek safety is both a legal commitment and a moral imperative." @irap.bsky.social President, Sharif Aly

Thank you @reptedlieu.bsky.social & @shaheen.senate.gov for leading the call to welcome people seeking safety: bit.ly/WelcomingRes...

The graphic reads “We will welcome. Join the Pledge: bit.ly/WelcomingPledge” over a purple background.

When the world feels divided, we choose connection. One act of welcome can make someone feel seen, safe, & valued.
Join us—sign the #WeWillWelcome Pledge today to help build inclusive, resilient, & safe communities.
✅Take the pledge: bit.ly/WelcomingPle...
🤝Do an act of welcome.
📢Spread the word.

'It's not fair': Other refugees in limbo as US welcomes white South Africans Refugees from other nations ask why the White House has made an exception for white South Africans.

On #FathersDay – and every day – we're inspired by our client Pacito and countless refugee dads like him who work tirelessly to care for their own families while courageously fighting for all refugee families' safety & unity.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

🚨 USCIS just quietly rescinded its only guidance on statelessness. Now there’s:
🔹 No definition
🔹 No ID process
🔹 No pathway to protection
200K+ ppl are left in limbo. We urge USCIS to reinstate guidance + Congress to pass the #StatelessProtectionAct.
Full statement in bio.

Solidarity Statement | Over 220 Groups Oppose Racist Entry Ban from Trump Administration and Support Targeted Communities <br/> — Muslims for Just Futures Today (June 9, 2025), as the Trump Administration implements the entry ban, 225 groups raise our voices in solidarity to oppose it. Our groups represent a wide swath of communities, issues, and moveme...

Led by Muslims for Just Futures and Undocu Black Network, w/ support from Building Movement Project, this statement reflects solidarity across communities, issues, and movements across the United States.
Read the full statement and call to action now: bit.ly/EntryBanSolidarityStatement

As the Administration implements this ban—targeting 19 countries, predominantly Black, Brown, Muslim-majority, and Global South nations—we join in raising our voices to say: We oppose this ban. We support the communities it harms. We call for solidarity and action.

We are proud to join over 225 organizations in a collective statement of solidarity to oppose the racist 2025 Entry Ban announced by the Trump Administration.

Donald Trump’s travel ban: Why? And why now? US administration says order aims to keep America safe, but advocates say ‘arbitrary’ ban will keep families apart.

“The latest travel ban is absolutely part and parcel of the administration’s agenda to weaponise immigration laws to target people who are racial and religious minorities and people with whom they disagree." - IRAP's Laurie Ball Cooper via @aljazeera.com
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/...

IRAP solemnly endorses this resolution urging the immediate delivery of aid into Gaza. Thank you @jayapal.house.gov @raskin.house.gov @keating.house.gov @foushee.house.gov and @balint.house.gov for leading with compassion for forcibly displaced Palestinians.

jayapal.house.gov/2025/06/04/j...

Lawsuit Challenges “Unlawful” Detention of Migrants at Guantánamo Bay The point of holding people in the notorious prison is “to instill fear in the immigrant population,” the filing states.

On Wednesday, IRAP, alongside @aclu.org and @ccrjustice.org, filed a class action lawsuit against the Trump admin for detaining migrants in Guantánamo Bay: truthout.org/articles/law...

‘We Don’t Want Them’: Trump Signs Travel Ban on Citizens From 12 Countries

“The proclamation is another example of the president making a mockery out of immigration and national security laws in order to punish races, religions and ideas he doesn’t like." Becca Heller, IRAP co-founder

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/u...

“Today’s proclamation weaponizes and distorts immigration laws to target people that the president dislikes and disagrees with – and it does so based primarily on racial and religious animus." - Stephanie Gee, Senior Director, U.S. Legal Services