In the last update, I wrote about the refugee situation in Ukraine and how it relates to our work with Afghans and other refugees being resettled here. This week, I want to give a update on the situation in Eastern Europe and share more about the global state of displaced people and the role the US has played in resettlement.

Ukraine: For a more thorough update on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, view this document or visit this page, both produced by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In brief, the number of Ukrainians fleeing the country and seeking asylum in Eastern Europe is now approaching 3.5 million. The number of internally displaced people exceeds 6.5 million, and an estimated 12 million are being affected by the hardest hit areas, suffering injury and loss of crucial resources. Poland continues to provide for the majority of refugees, having received over 2 million through their borders.

As European nations and cities struggle to meet the growing demand, the Biden administration has stated it is looking into options for more direct assistance. Those options seem limited, however. In addition to providing temporary protected status (TPS) for Ukrainians already in the US, our government is currently providing humanitarian aid ($293 million already with another $4 billion on the way) and has expedited the visa process for immediate family members of US citizens. This should help, but immediate family (defined as spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21) is a narrow segment of the population seeking visas for legal entry to the US. Even with those limitations, the visa system cannot process every eligible applicant in a timely manner. If and when newly displaced Ukrainians arrive in the US, the most likely scenario by which they are granted permission to stay is humanitarian parole.

Although it may be frustrating that our government isn't doing more at the onset of this crisis, it is important to recognize that the refugee process is one of international cooperation with leadership from the UN. There simply are not many options available to the US administration at this time. That being said, policies can be changed, and the limitations of the system should not dissuade us from having the conversation with one another and with our elected officials. For what is is worth, according to Church World Service, there are over 7,000 Ukrainian refugees already in the so-called pipeline for resettlement in the US. I am told many of the Ukrainian arrivals in recent years were for resettled here for reasons of family reunification.

Global Crisis of Forced Displacement: UNHCR's 2020 Report on Forced Displacement indicates a global number of 82.4 million displaced people. 26.4 million of those are defined as refugees, with another 4.1 million seeking asylum. Internally displaced people make up the majority of the total. More startling is that by June 2021 the total increased from 82.4 to 84 million - with conflict, violence, and climate change driving the growth. Global events since June '21 have surely made the situation far worse. As stated above, the Russian assault on Ukraine has already displaced over 10 million in just a matter of weeks.

The UNHCR takes the lead in determining refugee status and moving people through the process. The first step, of course, is the immediate safety of displaced people. The UNHCR works with local government and agencies on the ground in neighboring countries to set up temporary shelters (refugee camps) and provide for basic needs. If, through a lengthy case-by-case process, it is determined that an individual can no longer live safely in their country of origin, they are granted asylum and officially become a refugee. Further security checks and background information is processed and a refugee is assigned to a country for resettlement (usually a third country - not their temporary location). The government of the destination country then conducts interviews, background checks, security and medical screenings, and begins processing legal documents before assigning the refugee to one of nine domestic resettlement agencies. By the time they arrive in their new country and community, refugees are assured permanent legal status. The process can take 1-2 years or longer. Click here for a graphic detailing this process.

The US is currently turning around an historic reduction of refugee resettlement capacity. Despite a steady rise in the global refugee population since 2010, annual admission ceilings (maximum capacity set by the administration) were decreased by 10,000 refugees from 2011-13, for a capacity 70,000 refugees per year. We saw another decrease to 50,000 in 2017, and an historic low of just 18,000 in 2020. (Less than 12,000 refugees were actually resettled in 2020.) For comparison, in recent months, the US has resettled over 65,000 Afghans (in addition to refugees from other countries), and in 1980 the US resettled over 200,000. I recommend this piece from the University of Connecticut as an excellent explanation of how the resettlement process works in the US.

As we move forward, it is more important now than ever that we, the body of Christ, live into our calling. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, the gospels, and the epistles, we are reminded that God expects us to welcome and serve the immigrants and refugees among us. With the new refugee ceiling being set to 125,000, and our agencies operating with an exhausted skeleton crew, they cannot do this alone. Continue to pray for those professionals and their families. Support them with your advocacy and your gifts of time and treasure. May this growing crisis be a moment for us as the church to renew our commitment to the love and care of our neighbors in need.

Looking for inspiration in the Lenten season? Join us at 6:30pm on Tuesday, March 22, for a conversation about ways congregations around the state are welcoming our new Afghan neighbors. During this 90-minute Zoom workshop hosted by the UCC Wisconsin Conference's Immigration Working Group, we'll learn about the big picture of statewide refugee resettlement from the Rev. Peder Johanson (Volunteer Coordinator for Afghan Refugee Response with the Wisconsin Council of Churches) and Mary Flynn (Program Manager for Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan). We'll be inspired by stories of personal experiences welcoming new Afghan neighbors, including an update from the newly-formed group, Welcoming New Neighbors-NW WI Refugee Resettlement. And we'll have a chance to brainstorm together and share ideas of how our congregations might get involved in welcoming new refugee neighbors to our communities. 

Register here for "After Fort McCoy: Immigration Justice Here and Now with our New Afghan Neighbors" on Tuesday, March 22 from 6:30-8pm

North West Wisconsin - Welcoming New Neighbors, an interfaith community coalition based in Eau Claire, is working with Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin to resettle Afghans in Eau Claire. Contact Rev. Peder Johanson to be connected with their leadership.

East-Central Wisconsin - Catholic Charities in Green Bay is resettling Afghans in and around Green Bay. World Relief is resettling Afghans in Appleton and Oshkosh and offer several ways to support the effort there.

Central Wisconsin - New Beginnings for Refugees is a new resettlement agency located in Wausau, under the direction of ECDC. They are resettling families in and around Wausau.

South West Wisconsin - Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program, Inc (SWCAP) is working with Church World Service to resettle Afghan families in and around Platteville. For more information and to discuss how your church can support their work, contact Rev. Peder Johanson.

South Central Wisconsin - Jewish Social Services is a resettlement agency located in Madison. With the support of volunteers through Open Doors For Refugees, they are resettling families and individuals in and around Madison. Visit opendoorsforrefugees.org to learn how you and/or your congregation to volunteer.

South East Wisconsin - Lutheran Social Services is resettling and supporting Afghans primarily in Milwaukee and within a 100 mile radius. International Institute of Wisconsin is also resettling Afghans in Milwaukee. LSS does cosponsorship with churches and both are in need of volunteers. Team Rubicon collects and distributes material donations and the Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition provides services and support to the refugee communities in Milwaukee.

Active volunteers, cosponsor team members, and others interested in engaging with one another around refugee resettlement are invited to our private Facebook Group.

The National Ministries of the United Church of Christ (UCC) extends an invitation to all:

Wednesdays in March, 6pm-7pm How to Help You Sponsored Family with their 1st Ramadan in a New Country. We will be hosting a 4-week series on Ramadan, the holy month of the Islamic Calendar that is set to begin April 2, 2022. Many churches who are hosting Afghan families and other Middle East-African refugees will need some training and awareness around Ramadan. These workshops will create space for churches to prepare for behavioral changes in their sponsored families, connections to local mosques, sensitivity to trauma incurred by the first major holiday in a foreign land that doesn’t recognize the holiday, etc., will be essential for maintaining a good relationship with sponsored families as well as increasing the sponsored families’ ability to integrate successfully into their communities. Link to meeting here: https://UCC.zoom.us/j/93582858343?pwd=WHd4SGZMb1JONjJCSHpGQVNnSU5DQT09

For education and worship resources, volunteer opportunities, and to give a donation towards the WCC effort in helping refugees from Afghanistan, visit our website.

This work is possible because of generous donations from judicatories, churches, and individuals.

Choose "Afghan Refugee Relief" in the fund drop-down menu.