June 18, 2010

CHICAGO – Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), Baltimore, renewed its call for passage of legislation to protect refugees and for reform of the domestic refugee resettlement program in a statement for World Refugee Day, June 20.

LIRS is one of the nation's leading agencies in welcoming and advocating for refugees and other immigrants. It works on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

According to a recent United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees report, there are 15.2 million refugees, 27.1 million internally displaced persons and 983,000 asylum-seekers in the world, the LIRS statement said.

In fiscal year 2009 LIRS said it resettled to the United States nearly 11,000 refugees, including many Iraqis, Burmese and Bhutanese. LIRS works in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and state entities to provide services to refugees as they come to the United States, the statement said.

"The U.S. refugee resettlement program is a critical component of our nation's commitment to providing lifesaving solutions for refugees and is an example to the world of our faith put into action offering hospitality and welcome," said Linda Hartke, LIRS president and chief executive officer. "Our nation is stronger and more vibrant as a direct result of the generations of refugees and immigrants we have received and integrated into the fabric of life in local communities."

LIRS expressed its "deep appreciation for the continued commitment of local congregations and individuals across the country who, even in these difficult economic times, continue to welcome refugees. However, this day (June 20) serves as an important reminder that there are millions of refugees and other displaced people who cannot return to their homes and urgently need our country's protection and assistance."

LIRS said that there have been many improvements in the types of legal and social services made available to refugees. However, it said that "the country needs a national resettlement program that is more flexible, to address the divergent needs of refugees and to more fully engage volunteers and community leaders in the resettlement process."

"We also need policies that ensure families who are separated in their search for safety and freedom can be reunified," said Susan Krehbiel, LIRS vice president for protection and programs. "U.S. refugee policy has not kept pace with the causes of refugee movements and changes in our domestic policies over the past 30 years. Now is the time for refugee resettlement reform."

LIRS recommended three specific actions to aid refugees: + "Swift passage" of the Refugee Protection Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI). The bill is intended to improve protection of refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants + Introduction of legislation to reform the domestic refugee resettlement program "to create a more flexible program that better meets the needs of refugees of the 21st century and helps them successfully integrate and become full members of society" + Support for "robust" funding of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Refugee Resettlement and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration

This weekend LIRS refugee resettlement partners are organizing events in communities and congregations all across the United States. On June 22 LIRS and Refugee Council U.S.A. will sponsor an advocacy day in Washington, D.C. involving faith leaders, refugees and other refugee advocates to discuss with policymakers the importance of refugee protection and assistance, LIRS said in its statement.

In 2000 the United Nations General Assembly declared that each June 20 would be dedicated to raising awareness regarding the situation of refugees throughout the world.

The LIRS World Refugee Day statement is at http://ow.ly/1ZZRz/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service