Announcement
Senators, representatives, sponsors, and refugees mingle in the second floor rotunda of the Idaho State Capitol. On the far side, a line of attendees gather food catered from The Goodness Land, Mount Everest Momo Cafe, and Sofras Bosnian Cuisine.
Photo: Madeline Rose Scott/IRC
At the current rate of resettlement, the International Rescue Committee estimates that the U.S. is likely to receive only 25,000 refugees by the end of fiscal year 2018. Across the country, family reunification applications remain delayed, and arrivals of Muslim refugees have plummeted by 94%. Offices slated to receive less than 100 refugee arrivals for the year are being forced to shut their doors.
On March 1st, the IRC in Boise headed to their local hill to discuss these concerns with legislators, asking for continued support of local programs and for refugee populations already resettled in Idaho.
In collaboration with the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Idaho Office for Refugees, Idaho Grain Producers Association, CSI Refugee Programs, Agency for New Americans, and more (*see full list of sponsors below), the IRC in Boise co-organized a “Refugee Appreciation Luncheon” for legislators in the Idaho State Capitol rotunda.
Sponsors, lobbyists, legislative aides, Senators, Representatives, and their staff lined up to taste from tables of Iraqi, Nepali, and Bosnian food catered from immigrant and refugee-owned businesses. Refugee community leaders mingled with luncheon attendees, answering questions and speaking to their experiences as refugees and new Americans.
Refugee attendees speak with former Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court, Jim Jones, and Idaho Representative Sue Chew at the Refugee Appreciation Luncheon.
Photo: Madeline Rose Scott/IRC
To complement the luncheon, IRC HQ’s field advocacy officer, Genevieve Kessler, flew in from New York to join the IRC in Boise’s community engagement specialist, Megan Frances Schwab, and executive director, Julianne Donnelly Tzul. Together, they held individual meetings with members of Idaho’s minority and majority leadership, legislators from the Boise and Twin Falls areas, alongside the regional directors for Senator James Risch and Congressman Raul Labrador.
Over the next several months, Boise’s Advocacy Team will continue to engage with these legislators and their staff, informing them of continued changes to refugee resettlement and inviting them to visit staff and refugee clients at the IRC in Boise.
Interested in joining our advocacy network? Text “rescue” to 738-674 to receive live national updates, or take action at act.rescue.org. Reach out to [email protected] for more information regarding the local IRC in Boise Advocacy team!
*Full list of sponsors: Agency for New Americans, BandD Foods, CapEd Credit Union, Catholic Charities of Idaho, College of Southern Idaho Refugee Programs, Con Paulos Chevrolet, Figure 8 Investment Strategies, Five Mile Church of the Nazarene, Global Gardens, Global Talent Idaho, Idaho Cattleman’s Association, Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Idaho Grain Producer’s Association, Idaho Office for Refugees, Idaho Potato Growers, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Center of Boise, Jannus Economic Opportunity, J.R. Simplot Company, Micron Technologies, Mountain West Realty, Monsanto, National Immigration Forum – Bibles, Badges, and Business, Sawtooth Law, University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences