LSS Refugee Services of Minnesota

02/07/2025

Help us welcome refugees!

TAKE ACTION: Call for an end to the refugee ban and stop-work order! 🚨

For decades, the United States has welcomed refugees fleeing violence, conflict, or persecution in their home countries. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is the long-standing system to vet, process, resettle, and support refugees arriving in the United States.

The “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program” executive order from Jan. 20, 2025, has abruptly suspended this life-saving program. Flights have been tragically canceled for refugees only weeks or even days away from reuniting with loved ones in the United States. This order has cascading and real human impacts on refugee family members awaiting reunification, faith communities, employers, and more.

Even refugees already lawfully admitted into the United States have been affected by recent executive actions. A stop-work order stemming from the "Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid" executive order resulted in the cessation of Reception & Placement (R&P) services. R&P provides the initial resettlement support to refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients, such as start-up help on food, rent, furnishings, and more. The disruption of R&P has threatened the food and housing security of those who had already arrived-- refugees who arrived before the suspension and who resettlement agencies and local communities already committed to serve.

Contact your members of Congress today to urge the administration to lift the suspension on refugee resettlement and the R&P stop-work order! ⤵️

🔗🚨: https://bit.ly/4ayOZyr

02/05/2025

02/04/2025

02/04/2025

Your gift inspires hope and supports transformational change in people's lives.

02/03/2025

02/03/2025

Global Refuge condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the false accusations lodged against our humanitarian work.

Read our full statement concerning misinformation around our mission.
https://www.globalrefuge.org/news/misinformation-humanitarian-work/

01/29/2025

From Presiding Bisbop Elizabeth Eaton, “The Scriptures are clear. We are called to see anew the image of God in our immigrant neighbors. Following God’s call in Leviticus 19 that is echoed throughout Scripture, the time is now.”

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has issued a statement on the immediate impacts of recent executive orders focused on immigration.

01/26/2025

A prayer for the refugee community during the stop work order:

God of compassion, who carries your people though all circumstances, embrace and protect all refugees in our nation this day. Those children, mothers and fathers and siblings who received the assurance of shelter, protection and support; grant that their shelter not be removed, that their protection remain intact, and their support be ongoing. Stir wisdom in our leaders that power may be used to aid the most vulnerable in our midst, and grant healing when power is used to harm. And use us to heal and help those harmed. Stir compassion in our hearts, and move us toward those whose futures are now uncertain. Give us peace. In the name of our God, the God of all nations, Amen. 💙

01/26/2025

URGENT: On Friday, Global Refuge received a stop-work order from the government calling for us to immediately stop serving the nearly 6,000 newly arrived refugees in our care. These children and families fled war, violence, or persecution and came to the United States through the official U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. They arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs and rely on the initial assistance Global Refuge provides for urgent needs like housing, food, healthcare, finding work, and enrolling their children in school.

Stand with refugees.

Your gifts are the only way we can assure that refugees in our care can access the essential resources promised to them. Provide critical support to newly arrived children and families today at globalrefuge.org/withrefugees.

12/26/2024

Wishing a happy first day of Hanukkah to those who observe! May this season of light be full of love. 🕯️💓

12/26/2024

Merry Christmas from Global Refuge! To all celebrating, we wish you and your loved ones a day full of abundant happiness and peace. 💓

As we reflect on the Holy Family’s journey this Christmas season, we are reminded that Jesus was a refugee born into a family seeking safety. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ZpNoqT