The IRC in Atlanta's Acting Executive Director, Justin Howell, provides an update on recent executive orders and what they mean for refugees, asylees and immigrants in Georgia, how our team is preparing for increased arrivals, and how the community can help!
Friends,
Earlier this month, the Biden administration sent a clear message that the US is ready to reclaim our standing as a beacon of hope for millions of people around the world violently forced to leave their homes, families and livelihoods to seek refugee protections in other countries. The administration committed to welcoming 62,500 refugees into the US in fiscal year 2021 which ends this September while also investing in rebuilding the US Refugee Admissions Program to ensure that there is adequate capacity to welcome 125,000 refugees into the US in 2022. For the IRC in Atlanta, this means we are currently increasing our staff capacity to be ready to welcome new refugees, asylees and immigrants to a safe home in Georgia in the months to come.
Check out the replay of our February 18 Virtual Town Hall with Justin on Facebook here
We commend President Biden for this announcement and for signing several critical executive orders that have eliminated the Trump administration’s various attempts to codify prejudice, white supremacy and xenophobia into the nation’s immigration system. Prioritizing an end to the Muslim travel ban, strengthening protections for DACA recipients, ending construction of the border wall and halting deportations based solely on an individual’s legal status are actions that were necessary to start the process of ensuring US immigration policy and practices embody compassion and empathy. President Biden’s proposal to provide a pathway to citizenship for over 11 million fellow community members, currently barred from citizenship and the full civil rights it affords, is the type of visionary leadership that is needed in response to the previous administration’s animus towards people fleeing oppression, persecution and war.
We are eager to see the direct impact of these recent policy changes, but we cannot ignore the reality that we must be prepared to meet the demand of welcoming new refugees, asylees and immigrants while continuing our efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our clients, staff and the communities in which we work. The IRC in Atlanta will continue our bold and innovative COVID response efforts by building on our success in providing 14,000 COVID-19 tests, distributing over 500 COVID-19 vaccines, and disbursing over $500,000 in emergency cash assistance to community members impacted by the pandemic. Moving forward it is critical that we continue COVID testing and vaccine distribution to communities that all too often are last in line for these critical, life-saving services.
It is thanks to each of you—our community champions, advocates and supporters—that the IRC in Atlanta has weathered the attacks on our work over the last four years, and I humbly ask that you continue to champion our life-saving work by renewing your financial support to ensure we are prepared to welcome and serve our new neighbors while continuing the fight against COVID-19. Together, we will show the world that there is another America—one that respects the dignity of all, one that offers protection to those seeking safety and one that believes compassion should guide our policies.
In solidarity,
Justin
To learn more about the work of the IRC in Atlanta and for information on how you can get involved with the IRC as a donor or volunteer, please contact Development Manager, Kalie Lasiter, at Kalie.Lasiter [at] Rescue.org or 678-636-8941.
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