From: CWS Lancaster <rhelwig@cwsglobal.org>
Date: Tue, Mar 15, 2022 at 3:30 PM
Subject: CWS March Newsletter: Updates on Ukraine & Afghanistan
To: info@gehmanmennonitechurch.org <info@gehmanmennonitechurch.org>
| No images? Click here   Updates on Ukraine Over the last 15 years, CWS Lancaster has resettled 93 Ukrainian refugees into our community. Our hearts are with them, the people of Ukraine, and everyone whose lives will be affected by this humanitarian crisis. Within only 12 days, more than two million refugees were forced to flee their homes in Ukraine in search of safety. As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, the United Nations estimates that millions more will need protection and assistance in the coming months. CWS Lancaster welcomes the decision to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainian nationals. According to CLINIC, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, this decision will protect approximately 28,000 people in the United States from return to the war and humanitarian disaster in Ukraine. CWS Lancaster's Immigration Legal Services program will provide TPS support for local Ukrainian nationals who are eligible once the filing guidelines have been released. While it is still too early to understand the impact of this crisis on the US refugee resettlement program, CWS Lancaster is ready to do our part if and when we are called to provide resettlement services for Ukrainian refugees. Refugees fleeing Ukraine are joining the over 86 million people who are forcibly displaced worldwide. CWS continues to advocate for a robust U.S. resettlement program so that individuals and families fleeing life-threatening conflict and persecution can find refuge. Your donations, volunteer support, and advocacy ensure that we are able to act quickly and nimbly to welcome new neighbors from around the world.  Afghan Placement & Assistance Program As of February 19, 2022, all U.S. military bases providing services to Afghan evacuees have closed, with 66,503 individuals moving to local communities as part of Operation Allies Welcome. CWS has served 6,899 new Afghan neighbors across the CWS network and through CWS partners, including welcoming 169 new neighbors here in the Lancaster area. Afghan evacuees currently residing on U.S. military bases overseas have now begun arriving to the United States. It is expected that 3,500 to 5,000 Afghan nationals will arrive to Safe Havens in the US from U.S. military bases overseas over the next three to four months. CWS Lancaster will welcome an additional 60 new Afghan neighbors through this program, with arrivals anticipated to begin in the coming weeks. In addition, CWS Lancaster's Legal Counseling staff continues to meet with new Afghan neighbors to identify next steps. Because Humanitarian Parole is a temporary immigration status, it does not have a path to permanent residency. Legal Counseling staff are providing initial consultations to discuss immigration legal options for Afghan neighbors and are currently building a network of pro-bono attorneys to support asylum applications.  Local refugee students reflect on educational journey Emerance Uwineza and Jacqueline Kubembereza reflect on their journey to Lancaster and their educational progress in this recent USA Today network article. "School enrollment is part of the core services," said Silvia Antenucci, resettlement supervisor with Church World Service. "For refugees, for Afghan parolees, for all our clients, within the 90 days of the resettlement and placement timeframe, school enrollment is one of the biggest." Read the full article here. Ensure program sustainability with a recurring donation. Your monthly donations allow us to invest in long-term services. Start a Welcome Team and walk alongside new neighbors as they build new lives in Lancaster. Reach out today! Are you interested in learning more about our programs or connecting with CWS staff? We're happy to connect.     |
