On January 20, 2025, an Executive Order from the White House temporarily suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), pending a 90-day review. This pause is a serious blow to thousands of refugees hoping to find safety and a new beginning in the Sacramento region, as well as to those already here who are waiting to be reunited with loved ones.

This month, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we celebrate Muriel Chiavini, a dedicated volunteer with the Afghan Women’s Program since the fall of 2019. Muriel’s journey of service is deeply rooted in her experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at the Philippine Refugee Center, where she prepared refugees for cultural immersion and integration in the United States. She reflects, “God used my experience to help the Afghan women refugees of World Relief.”