News from Miami, FL

From Friday, March 13 and until further notice, the IRC’s offices in Tallahassee and Miami are closed and our staff is working remotely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are adapting and continuing to serve our clients during this difficult time. Learn more about our COVID-19 response and how you can help refugees and survivors in Florida communities in our latest update.

March 17 marks the 40th Anniversary of President Jimmy Carter signing the Refugee Act of 1980. Forty years ago, Congress passed landmark legislation with near unanimous bipartisan support creating a formal process for welcoming refugees based on humanitarian needs and U.S. interests.

Refugee families, survivors of human trafficking and other vulnerable populations that we serve will be disproportionately affected by the impact of COVID-19 on our community in the coming weeks. Please donate to the IRC in Florida’s Crisis Prevention Fund and help us ensure our newest neighbors have the resources and services they need to get through this trying time.

In the lead up to Super Bowl LIV, the IRC in Miami’s Caridad Mas-Batchelor delivered numerous trainings for Uber drivers across the tri-county area on how to recognize and report human trafficking.

“Florida has long been a leader in showing hospitality to refugee and immigrant communities and will continue to be a destination for those seeking a safe and welcoming home where they can rebuild their lives.” The IRC in Florida’s executive director, J.D. McCrary, provides an update on recent policy decisions and the status of the refugee resettlement program.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month and the IRC is working to raise awareness and train community members to identify and report potential trafficking cases in both the Big Bend and South Florida.

The IRC is thrilled to welcome Marian Dickson to the team as our new development director. Marian is charged with leading our Southeast Resource Development team—which supports the IRC’s locally-funded offices in Atlanta, Tallahassee and Miami—in the expansion of its individual giving programs.

Thanks to you and other generous supporters, we raised more than $1,100 on Give Miami Day!

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in partnership with Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC) has received funding from the Department of Justice, securing – for the first time – federal resources specifically designated to combat human trafficking in the Big Bend, a highly rural area in Florida.

On August 20, the Federal South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force hosted an event to raise public awareness of the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888). The Task Force—led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations and Miami-Dade Police Department—has participated in more than 100 human trafficking community outreach events in 2019.