Advocacy

Whatever the changes to policy, our call and our commitment to putting love in action remain the same. We will still stand.

Will you stand with us?

One crucial way to stand with us today is by joining our network of church and immigrant leaders.

When we unite to use our collective voice, we demonstrate a shared commitment to justice and compassion, encouraging our elected officials to take meaningful action that benefits the people we care about, both here in NC and around the world.

Take Action Today

TELL YOUR SENATORS TO SUPPORT MEANINGFUL BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION REFORM!

More than 80% of Americans surveyed – across political affiliations – agree that Republicans and Democrats must work together “to pass immigration reforms that address labor shortages and inflation, and protect people already here and contributing.” Join us in asking Congress to work together towards reforming our immigration policy in a way that is both more functional and consistent with the biblical command to welcome the stranger.

Allow both Dreamers and Afghan parolees to pursue permanent legal status
Create new avenues for legal migration for agricultural workers at a time the country is facing serious labor shortages that are affecting food costs
Improve order and security at the U.S.-Mexico border

USE YOUR VOICE TO STAND UP FOR DREAMERS

The only way for “Dreamers,” young immigrants brought as children to the U.S., to ultimately have stability is for Congress to pass a permanent legislative solution. DACA was originally envisioned as a temporary measure, and ten years after it was announced, it’s clear that it is past time for a permanent solution for Dreamers – one that only Congress can provide. The DACA program is currently facing legal challenges, making it very likely that current DACA beneficiaries will have their work authorization withdrawn in the coming year, harming them, their families, their employers and a national economy that relies upon their many contributions. The DACA program has already been closed to new applicants – including a cohort of people who were too young to apply for DACA in the past, whose ability to pursue college and/or careers now is in limbo.

URGE CONGRESS TO PROVIDE A PATH TO PERMANENT STATUS FOR AFGHAN PAROLEES

Read more and email Congress now!

As the United States welcomes many Afghans fleeing from the Taliban, many are coming to the United States under humanitarian parole. It is necessary for Congress to act to provide a way for our Afghan Allies to apply for a permanent status. While many will be applying for asylum, the asylum system is already significantly backlogged. Tens of thousands of evacuated Afghan men, women, and children resettled in the U.S. will need to navigate complex legal issues to find more lasting protection in the U.S. We are advocating for the Afghan Adjustment Act so Afghans who were evacuated will be able to adjust status in the United States. The United States has historically done this for other populations including Cubans, Southeast Asians and Iraqis and we must do it again for Afghans.

Convening a Christian conscience on issues regarding immigration is a core call of World Relief and an integral way that we partner with local churches to serve and stand with those most impacted. We consider it an essential task to engage the American church and remind leaders and congregations alike that our Christian faith compel us to seek justice and mercy alongside those experiencing injustice. In increasingly divisive times, we are proud of our leading role as a thoughtful voice in the U.S. evangelical community.

World Relief intercedes in partnership, to use our collective voices to encourage our elected representatives to work collaboratively towards solutions that foster thriving, welcoming communities where families can flourish. We seek not only to amplify the voices of those who are experiencing injustice but to stand in solidarity with them, advocating with and alongside them. Our commitment to justice and advocacy is rooted in biblical truths and inspired by the example of Jesus, who walked alongside the poor and oppressed. We believe that such advocacy is an important witness to a watching world about the character of Jesus.

To that end, the World Relief Advocacy Team seeks to:

Address structural inequality & violence
Increase awareness
Build a movement for justice
Deepen empathy and understanding
Catalyze engagement

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."

— Proverbs 31:8

Create a Just Path to Citizenship for Long-Term Immigrants

Urge Congress to Create a Just Path to Citizenship for Long-Term Immigrants

Now, more than ever, it is essential that Congress enact bipartisan legislative solutions to create a clear path to permanent legal residency and eventual citizenship for long-term immigrants who are rooted, contributing members of our communities, neighborhoods, and congregations. Hundreds of thousands of individuals benefiting from Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have resided lawfully in the United States for more than 20 years. Approximately 1.3 million Dreamers (immigrants brought to the U.S. as children), have resided continuously in the United States since 2007, with many more living here for a decade or longer. Undocumented farmworkers make up about 50% of the agricultural workforce, and a majority of undocumented immigrants overall have resided in the U.S. for over 10 years. Let your senators know that you support legislation that affirms the long-running contributions of these immigrants by creating an earned path to lawful permanent resident status.

Contact your 2 Senators and 1 Representative.

Make sure to personalize in text brackets.

Your browser does not support iframes. Please visit <a href="https://worldrelief.good.do/justpathtocitizenship/Email-congress/">https://worldrelief.good.do/justpathtocitizenship/Email-congress/</a>

Restore Refugee Resettlement

Urge President Biden to Restore the Refugee Resettlement Program

Members of Congress have oversight over what happens with the proposal of the refugee program after it is submitted to the State department, and they are responsible for appropriating funding. Their job is to represent the views of their constituents. Let your Representative and Senators know that you support raising the refugee ceiling set by the Presidential Determination to 125,000 and to strengthen the U.S.'s role in aiding people fleeing violence and persecution.

Make sure to personalize in text brackets.

Your browser does not support iframes. Please visit <a href="https://worldrelief.good.do/biden-restore-refugee-resettlement/email-congress/">https://worldrelief.good.do/biden-restore-refugee-resettlement/email-congress/</a>

End Gender-Based Violence

Urge Congress to support the Safe from the Start Act and End Gender-Based Violence

In humanitarian emergencies, conflict settings, and natural disasters, women and girls are at the highest risk for violence. One in five refugee or displaced women experiences sexual violence, and living in a conflict-affected area increases the risk of intimate partner violence by 50%.
These numbers display the known presence of violence against women and girls. However, crisis response does not effectively work to prevent gender-based violence, support those who have been affected, or empower women to be a part of the solution. If we seek to protect those experiencing injustice, that means we must end gender-based violence in every form, including in humanitarian crises and conflict.

The Safe from the Start Act put forward in the House takes measures to ensure that humanitarian actors have the tools necessary to effectively combat gender-based violence. The Act prioritizes the safety of women and girls from the start by improving the preparedness of organizations involved in aid and providing access to life-saving, wholistic assistance that addresses the physical, psychological, and social consequences of gender-based violence.

Your browser does not support iframes. Please visit <a href="https://worldrelief.good.do/safe-from-start/email-congress/">https://worldrelief.good.do/safe-from-start/email-congress/</a>

Asylum Seekers and Separated Families

Advocate for Asylum-Seekers and Families At the Border

Many families from Central America and other parts of the world are attempting to cross the U.S. border to seek asylum. However due to the COVID19 pandemic, the border has been effectively closed, shutting off the opportunity for many individuals, including unaccompanied children fleeing persecution, to find protection in the United States. Several recent policies have meant that parents are often forced to make unnecessary, harmful decisions to keep their families detained indefinitely or face separation from their children and many individuals who could qualify for asylum are being returned to dangerous situations.

Your browser does not support iframes. Please visit <a href="https://worldrelief.good.do/border/email-congress/">https://worldrelief.good.do/border/email-congress/</a>